Gasoline, unleaded midgrade price history from 1994 through 2019

Gasoline, Unleaded Midgrade Inflation Calculator

Prices for Gasoline, Unleaded Midgrade, 1994-2019 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for gasoline, unleaded midgrade were 142.96% higher in 2019 versus 1994 (a $28.59 difference in value).

Between 1994 and 2019: Gasoline, unleaded midgrade experienced an average inflation rate of 3.61% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gasoline, unleaded midgrade costing $20 in the year 1994 would cost $48.59 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.20% during this same period, inflation for gasoline, unleaded midgrade was higher.

Price Inflation for Gasoline, unleaded midgrade since 1994

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2000 (27.35%), 2009 (-26.70%), and 2011 (25.86%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Gasoline, unleaded midgrade:

Year	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
CPI	103.233	104.433	110.367	110.233	96.233	104.467	133.033	127.933	120.233	139.233	163.800	199.100	224.400	242.455	283.195	207.588	244.818	308.138	318.483	311.144	302.087	225.606	203.107	227.627	257.228	250.813

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Buying power of $20 since 1994

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gasoline, unleaded midgrade, over time, for $20 beginning in 1994. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1994	$20.00	-
1995	$20.23	1.16%
1996	$21.38	5.68%
1997	$21.36	-0.12%
1998	$18.64	-12.70%
1999	$20.24	8.56%
2000	$25.77	27.35%
2001	$24.79	-3.83%
2002	$23.29	-6.02%
2003	$26.97	15.80%
2004	$31.73	17.64%
2005	$38.57	21.55%
2006	$43.47	12.71%
2007	$46.97	8.05%
2008	$54.87	16.80%
2009	$40.22	-26.70%
2010	$47.43	17.93%
2011	$59.70	25.86%
2012	$61.70	3.36%
2013	$60.28	-2.30%
2014	$58.53	-2.91%
2015	$43.71	-25.32%
2016	$39.35	-9.97%
2017	$44.10	12.07%
2018	$49.83	13.00%
2019	$48.59	-2.49%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for gasoline, unleaded midgrade, 1994-2019

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2019 / CPI in 1994 * 1994 USD value = 2019 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Gasoline, unleaded midgrade was 103.233 in the year 1994 and 250.813 in 2019:

250.813 / 103.233 * $20 = $48.59

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1994 has the same "purchasing power" as $48.59 in 2019 (in the CPI category of Gasoline, unleaded midgrade).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Gasoline, unleaded midgrade in 1994. In addition to gasoline, unleaded midgrade, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.