According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuel oil are 2,635.14% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $135.45 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $5.145 in August 2026 for Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters). See observed price history.
The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.
Between 1971 and 2026:Fuel oil experienced an average inflation rate of 6.20% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuel oil costing $5.14 in the year 1971 would cost $140.59 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for fuel oil was higher.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 6.14%, which is below the average yearly change for fuel oil during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation for fuel oil was higher.
Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters). U.S. city average. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices, through August 2026.
These observed prices cover the specific product and unit above, which may be narrower than the fuel oil CPI category. Local prices vary.
● Average price paid● In 2026 dollars
Annual averages use the available monthly observations; 2026 is a partial year through August 2026. The latest monthly price above may differ from the annual average. Gaps are left blank.
| Year | Average price paid | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $4.732 | $4.732 |
| 2025 | $3.621 | $3.765 |
| 2024 | $3.605 | $3.852 |
| 2023 | $3.838 | $4.219 |
| 2022 | $5.011 | $5.736 |
| 2021 | $3.005 | $3.715 |
| 2020 | $2.288 | $2.962 |
| 2019 | $2.985 | $3.911 |
| 2018 | $3.089 | $4.119 |
| 2017 | $2.446 | $3.342 |
| 2016 | $2.112 | $2.948 |
| 2015 | $2.601 | $3.676 |
| 2014 | $3.707 | $5.246 |
| 2013 | $3.72 | $5.349 |
| 2012 | $3.753 | $5.476 |
| 2011 | $3.712 | $5.528 |
| 2010 | $2.925 | $4.494 |
| 2009 | $2.514 | $3.926 |
| 2008 | $3.752 | $5.838 |
| 2007 | $2.681 | $4.331 |
| 2006 | $2.495 | $4.146 |
| 2005 | $2.221 | $3.809 |
| 2004 | $1.645 | $2.918 |
| 2003 | $1.40 | $2.55 |
| 2002 | $1.162 | $2.163 |
| 2001 | $1.31 | $2.477 |
| 2000 | $1.36 | $2.646 |
| 1999 | $0.90 | $1.809 |
| 1998 | $0.88 | $1.808 |
| 1997 | $1.014 | $2.117 |
| 1996 | $1.019 | $2.176 |
| 1995 | $0.893 | $1.964 |
| 1994 | $0.916 | $2.071 |
| 1993 | $0.944 | $2.188 |
| 1992 | $0.961 | $2.294 |
| 1991 | $1.018 | $2.504 |
| 1990 | $1.087 | $2.787 |
| 1989 | $0.888 | $2.398 |
| 1988 | $0.846 | $2.396 |
| 1987 | $0.852 | $2.511 |
| 1986 | $0.834 | $2.551 |
| 1985 | $1.079 | $3.359 |
| 1984 | $1.12 | $3.611 |
| 1983 | $1.101 | $3.704 |
| 1982 | $1.209 | $4.195 |
| 1981 | $1.246 | $4.593 |
| 1980 | $1.01 | $4.105 |
| 1979 | $0.728 | $3.359 |
| 1978 | $0.539 | $2.769 |
Price in 2026 dollars = observed annual price × (2026 all-items CPI ÷ that year's all-items CPI). This measures overall purchasing power using the U.S. inflation index; the latest CPI year may be incomplete.
Average prices describe price levels. Changes in the products and stores sampled can affect these averages; category CPI controls for such changes and can follow a different path. Read the BLS explanation of average prices versus indexes.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuel oil, over time, for $5.14 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $5.14 | 6.14% |
| 1972 | $5.16 | 0.33% |
| 1973 | $5.96 | 15.51% |
| 1974 | $9.43 | 58.33% |
| 1975 | $10.21 | 8.30% |
| 1976 | $10.95 | 7.16% |
| 1977 | $12.41 | 13.34% |
| 1978 | $13.14 | 5.94% |
| 1979 | $18.45 | 40.37% |
| 1980 | $25.67 | 39.14% |
| 1981 | $31.40 | 22.34% |
| 1982 | $30.72 | -2.17% |
| 1983 | $28.24 | -8.10% |
| 1984 | $28.83 | 2.09% |
| 1985 | $27.67 | -4.00% |
| 1986 | $21.67 | -21.68% |
| 1987 | $22.18 | 2.35% |
| 1988 | $22.17 | -0.07% |
| 1989 | $23.51 | 6.04% |
| 1990 | $28.86 | 22.78% |
| 1991 | $27.04 | -6.32% |
| 1992 | $25.74 | -4.81% |
| 1993 | $25.52 | -0.85% |
| 1994 | $25.06 | -1.81% |
| 1995 | $24.80 | -1.04% |
| 1996 | $28.39 | 14.47% |
| 1997 | $28.34 | -0.16% |
| 1998 | $24.82 | -12.41% |
| 1999 | $25.33 | 2.02% |
| 2000 | $38.11 | 50.49% |
| 2001 | $36.82 | -3.40% |
| 2002 | $32.63 | -11.36% |
| 2003 | $39.98 | 22.51% |
| 2004 | $46.82 | 17.09% |
| 2005 | $63.31 | 35.22% |
| 2006 | $71.56 | 13.05% |
| 2007 | $76.84 | 7.37% |
| 2008 | $106.80 | 39.00% |
| 2009 | $70.28 | -34.19% |
| 2010 | $82.79 | 17.79% |
| 2011 | $107.62 | 30.00% |
| 2012 | $110.05 | 2.26% |
| 2013 | $108.33 | -1.57% |
| 2014 | $106.80 | -1.41% |
| 2015 | $74.41 | -30.33% |
| 2016 | $61.21 | -17.75% |
| 2017 | $70.73 | 15.55% |
| 2018 | $86.63 | 22.49% |
| 2019 | $82.63 | -4.61% |
| 2020 | $63.79 | -22.80% |
| 2021 | $83.81 | 31.39% |
| 2022 | $141.18 | 68.45% |
| 2023 | $117.09 | -17.06% |
| 2024 | $105.95 | -9.51% |
| 2025 | $103.99 | -1.86% |
| 2026 | $140.59 | 35.20%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Fuel oil:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 5.570 | 5.800 | 6.642 | 6.475 | 5.817 | 6.175 | 6.300 | 7.233 | 7.800 | 7.842 | 7.467 | 7.558 | 8.850 | 11.358 | 10.933 | 10.950 | 11.625 | 11.900 | 12.508 | 12.592 | 13.025 | 13.642 | 14.342 | 13.517 | 13.717 | 13.467 | 14.017 | 14.008 | 14.317 | 14.000 | 14.283 | 14.650 | 15.142 | 15.600 | 15.942 | 16.550 | 17.567 | 17.625 | 20.358 | 32.233 | 34.908 | 37.408 | 42.400 | 44.917 | 63.050 | 87.725 | 107.325 | 105.000 | 96.500 | 98.517 | 94.575 | 74.075 | 75.817 | 75.767 | 80.342 | 98.642 | 92.408 | 87.967 | 87.217 | 85.642 | 84.750 | 97.017 | 96.858 | 84.842 | 86.558 | 130.258 | 125.825 | 111.533 | 136.642 | 160.000 | 216.358 | 244.583 | 262.597 | 364.999 | 240.197 | 282.932 | 367.804 | 376.126 | 370.234 | 365.008 | 254.317 | 209.182 | 241.714 | 296.064 | 282.408 | 218.008 | 286.435 | 482.502 | 400.165 | 362.112 | 355.387 | 480.473 |