Special Report

The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born

Samuel Stebbins

Published: September 14, 2017 10:10 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 8:11 am

There were an estimated 218 million motorists in the United States in 2015, accounting for a combined 3.1 trillion vehicle miles traveled the same year — more than in any year prior. Because of our dependence on personal vehicles, the price of gasoline can have a considerable impact on Americans’ budgets and can also have much broader economic implications.

The price at the pump across the country is subject to global forces of supply and demand of crude oil. Shortages and relatively high demand will cause prices to spike, while a glut in supply tends to keep gas prices low.

In recent years, American motorists have caught a break at the pump, following a roughly 50% drop in the price of a barrel of crude oil from 2014 to 2015. Nationwide, a gallon of gas cost an average of $2.45 in 2015 — down from an all-time non-inflation adjusted high of $3.64 per gallon on average nationwide in 2012.

Despite the fall in crude oil prices, for much of the last several decades, gas has been even less expensive than it currently is. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to identify the average cost of a gallon of gas every year since 1945.

Click here to see how much a gallon of gas cost the year you were born.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

1945
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($2.19)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $1.22 ($16.00)
> U.S. gas consumption: 579.3 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 173.9 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: StLagreca / Shutterstock.com

1946
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($1.96)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $1.41 ($15.65)
> U.S. gas consumption: 722.5 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 214.6 gallons

Source: Massimo Campanari / Shutterstock.com

1947
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.23 ($1.97)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $1.93 ($19.68)
> U.S. gas consumption: 773.4 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 225.4 gallons

Source: Massimo Santi / Shutterstock.com

1948
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.26 ($2.09)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.60 ($25.75)
> U.S. gas consumption: 834.6 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 239.0 gallons

24/7 Wall St.
50 Most Famous Actors Over 70

Source: anderm / Shutterstock.com

1949
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.17)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.54 ($25.69)
> U.S. gas consumption: 879.7 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 247.7 gallons

Source: Nick Fox / Shutterstock.com

1950
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.14)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.51 ($23.96)
> U.S. gas consumption: 954.8 million barrels
> Per capita consumption: 263.3 gallons

Source: Massimo Campanari / Shutterstock.com

1951
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.03)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.53 ($22.78)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 295.5 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Charles Harker / Shutterstock.com

1952
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.01)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.53 ($22.61)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 288.2 gallons

Source: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

1953
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.08)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.68 ($23.78)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 297.6 gallons

Source: lazyllama / Shutterstock.com

1954
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.08)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.78 ($24.85)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 300.3 gallons

Source: IMDB

1955
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.05)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.77 ($24.67)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 320.0 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: trekandshoot / shutterstock.com

1956
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($2.04)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.79 ($24.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 322.9 gallons

Source: Andrey Bayda / Shutterstock.com

1957
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($2.05)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.09 ($25.97)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 322.2 gallons

Source: Everett Historical / Shutterstock.com

1958
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($1.96)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.01 ($24.86)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 325.3 gallons

Source: Alexandra Studio / Toronto History / Flickr

1959
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.94)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.90 ($23.54)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 332.7 gallons

Source: Novikov Aleksey / Shutterstock.com

1960
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.95)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($23.06)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 337.7 gallons

Source: Hans Christiansson / Shutterstock.com

1961
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.91)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.89 ($22.99)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 337.4 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Matthew J Thomas / Shutterstock.com

1962
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.88)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.90 ($22.77)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 345.1 gallons

Source: AXpop / Shutterstock.com

1963
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($1.84)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.89 ($22.40)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 351.1 gallons

Source: 2p2play / Shutterstock.com

1964
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($1.82)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($22.03)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 352.7 gallons

Source: Toronto History / Flickr

1965
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.83)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.86 ($21.46)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 362.3 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: Orange County Archives / Flickr

1966
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.32 ($1.83)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($20.89)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.8 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 375.0 gallons

Source: Sean Donohue Photo / Shutterstock.com

1967
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.33 ($1.84)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.92 ($20.56)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.8 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 382.5 gallons

Source: AXpop / Shutterstock.com

1968
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.34 ($1.79)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $2.94 ($19.76)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.9 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 402.9 gallons

Source: NASA on the Commons / Flickr

1969
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.35 ($1.77)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.09 ($19.56)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.0 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 418.0 gallons

Source: IvoShandor / Wikimedia Commons

1970
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.72)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.18 ($19.07)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 432.5 gallons

Source: Khaosaming / Wikimedia Commons

1971
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.67)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.39 ($19.68)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 444.0 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

1972
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.59)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.39 ($19.04)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 467.0 gallons

Source: David Falconer / Wikimedia Commons

1973
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.39 ($1.62)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $3.89 ($20.09)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 482.8 gallons

Source: David Falconer / Wikimedia Commons

1974
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.53 ($2.03)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $6.87 ($31.59)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 468.6 gallons

Source: The U.S. National Archives / Flickr

1975
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.57 ($1.98)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $7.67 ($32.98)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 473.8 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: CC0 Public Domain

1976
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.59 ($1.96)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $8.19 ($33.58)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 491.9 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1977
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.62 ($1.94)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $8.57 ($32.94)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 499.6 gallons

Source: Pixabay

1978
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.63 ($1.83)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $9.00 ($31.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 510.5 gallons

24/7 Wall St.
25 Best College Towns in America

Source: Warren K. Leffler / Wikimedia Commons

1979
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.86 ($2.31)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $12.64 ($39.33)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 479.2 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1980
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.19 ($2.95)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $21.59 ($59.70)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 445.0 gallons

Source: Kieran White / Wikimedia Commons

1981
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.31 ($2.97)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $31.77 ($80.66)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 440.1 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Lindsey G / Wikimedia Commons

1982
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.22 ($2.60)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $28.52 ($69.74)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 432.7 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1983
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.16 ($2.37)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $26.19 ($61.70)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 434.2 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1984
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.13 ($2.23)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $25.88 ($58.65)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 436.2 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1985
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.12 ($2.14)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $24.09 ($52.60)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.5 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 440.1 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: DeFacto / Wikimedia Commons

1986
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.86 ($1.61)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $12.51 ($27.02)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 449.1 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1987
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.90 ($1.64)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $15.40 ($31.85)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 455.9 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1988
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.90 ($1.59)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $12.58 ($24.92)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 461.3 gallons

Source: NOAA's National Ocean Service / Wikimedia Commons

1989
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.00 ($1.70)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $15.86 ($30.02)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 455.1 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1990
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.15 ($1.89)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $20.03 ($35.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 444.6 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1991
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.14 ($1.81)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $16.54 ($28.62)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 437.0 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1992
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.13 ($1.75)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $15.99 ($26.89)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 438.1 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1993
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.11 ($1.68)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $14.25 ($23.33)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 444.6 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1994
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.11 ($1.65)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $13.19 ($21.03)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.8 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 447.6 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1995
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.15 ($1.67)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $14.62 ($22.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.8 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 454.3 gallons

[in-text-ad]

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1996
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.23 ($1.76)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $18.46 ($27.78)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.9 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 457.3 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1997
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.23 ($1.74)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $17.23 ($25.49)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.9 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 458.9 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

1998
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.06 ($1.47)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $10.87 ($15.83)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.0 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 468.2 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

1999
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.17 ($1.60)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $15.56 ($22.06)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 474.0 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

2000
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.51 ($2.02)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $26.72 ($36.65)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 461.6 gallons

Source: The Car Spy / Wikimedia Commons

2001
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.46 ($1.91)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $21.84 ($29.50)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 463.2 gallons

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Thinkstock

2002
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.36 ($1.75)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $22.51 ($29.70)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 471.6 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

2003
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.59 ($2.01)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $27.56 ($35.69)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 472.1 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

2004
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.88 ($2.32)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $36.77 ($46.11)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 478.0 gallons

Source: Lance Cpl. Drew Barker / Official U.S. Marine Corps

2005
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.30 ($2.74)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $50.28 ($60.97)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 475.1 gallons

Source: Pixabay

2006
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.59 ($3.00)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $59.69 ($70.59)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 475.4 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

2007
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.80 ($3.16)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $66.52 ($75.58)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 440.5 gallons

Source: Coolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons

2008
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.27 ($3.61)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $94.04 ($106.76)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 440.5 gallons

Source: Thinkstock

2009
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.35 ($2.58)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $56.35 ($62.27)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 442.2 gallons

Source: Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Stumberg / Wikimedia Commons

2010
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.79 ($3.02)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $74.71 ($81.35)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 445.6 gallons

Source: Jet Fabara / US Air Force photo

2011
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.53 ($3.75)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $95.73 ($101.24)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 430.5 gallons

Source: Staff Sgt. Nathan Bevier / U.S. Air Force

2012
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.64 ($3.80)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $94.52 ($98.25)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 424.9 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

2013
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.53 ($3.62)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $95.99 ($98.30)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.0 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 394.1 gallons

Source: Dan Lockton / Flickr

2014
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.37 ($3.40)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $87.39 ($88.82)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 428.8 gallons

Source: Victor Maschek / Shutterstock.com

2015
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.45 ($2.45)
> Price per barrel (inflation adj.): $44.39 ($44.39)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita consumption: 437.8 gallons

Detailed Findings

A gallon of gas cost less than a quarter in 1945. However, after adjusting for inflation, fuel costs that year were roughly in line with today’s prices. Still, gas prices have ranged dramatically in the last several decades, from an inflation adjusted average national low of $1.47 in 1998, to a high of $3.80 in 2012.

Meeting demand for gasoline in the U.S. is no small task. Oil companies extracted some 3.4 billion barrels of crude oil in the U.S. in 2015 — up considerably from 3.2 billion barrels the previous year.

The country also depends heavily on foreign oil. The U.S. imported 2.7 billion barrels of crude oil in 2015, roughly the same amount as in 2014. However, the broader trend reflects a reduced reliance on foreign oil. Due to a range of factors, including decreased demand and increased U.S. production, crude oil imports have fallen 27% since an all time high of 3.7 billion barrels in 2005.

About half of all petroleum in the U.S. is refined into gasoline. Though it can be used for a wide range of purposes, personal automobiles account for 90% of gasoline consumption nationwide.

Though the progression is not always linear, Americans appear to be driving more and more each year. While 2015 was a record year for total vehicle miles traveled, it was not a record year for fuel consumption. Due in large part to increasingly fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans consumed some 437.8 gallons of gasoline per capita in 2015 — well below the all-time high of 510.5 gallons in 1978.

Methodology

To identify the cost of a gallon of gas every year since 1945, 24/7 Wall St. used historical data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The prices reflect annual averages of the price at the pump for a gallon of gasoline. We also considered average annual motor oil consumption and the average price of a barrel of crude oil from the EIA. Per-capita gas consumption was calculated using population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. All inflation-adjusted prices are tied to 2015 dollars. Annual U.S. crude oil imports and production also came from the EIA.