Gas priced at $3.41 in 1935 → $68.46 in 2021

Gas Inflation Calculator

$

Prices for Gas, 1935-2021 ($3.41)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for gasoline (all types) are 1,907.73% higher in 2021 versus 1935 (a $65.05 difference in value).

The current national average price is $3.41 for "Gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon/3.785 liters". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1935 and 2021: Gas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gas costing $3.41 in the year 1935 would cost $68.46 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.53% during this same period, inflation for gas was higher.

Price Inflation for Gasoline (all types) since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (38.97%), 2021 (36%), and 1974 (35.36%).

Price history

The average price for Gas is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon/3.785 liters:

Year Average price (Gas) Inflation adjusted price (2021 dollars)
2021 $3.41 (latest available value) $3.41
2020 $2.17 $2.96
2019 $2.64 $3.00
2018 $2.74 $3.00
2017 $2.41 $3.00
2016 $2.14 $3.01
2015 $2.45 $3.05
2014 $3.37 $3.06
2013 $3.53 $3.08
2012 $3.64 $3.09
2011 $3.53 $3.09
2010 $2.79 $3.08
2009 $2.35 $3.08
2008 $3.27 $3.11
2007 $2.80 $3.11
2006 $2.59 $3.11
2005 $2.30 $3.11
2004 $1.88 $3.11
2003 $1.59 $3.11
2002 $1.36 $3.09
2001 $1.46 $3.11
2000 $1.51 $3.10
1999 $1.17 $3.07
1998 $1.06 $3.05
1997 $1.23 $3.08
1996 $1.23 $3.07
1995 $1.15 $3.04
1994 $1.11 $2.99
1993 $1.11 $2.99
1992 $1.13 $3.00
1991 $1.14 $3.03
1990 $1.16 $3.04
1989 $1.02 $3.05
1988 $0.95 $3.09
1987 $0.95 $3.13
1986 $0.93 $3.18
1985 $1.20 $3.22
1984 $1.21 $3.27
1983 $1.24 $3.30
1982 $1.30 $3.33
1981 $1.38 $3.35
1980 $1.25 $3.37
1979 $0.90 $3.40
1978 $0.67 $3.41
1977 $0.66 $3.49
1976 $0.61 $3.45
View price changes for other categories
Frankfurters · Film and photographic supplies · New cars · Rent of primary residence · More

Buying power of $3.41 since 1935

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gas, over time, for $3.41 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year USD Value Inflation Rate
1935 $3.41 -
1936 $3.54 3.68%
1937 $3.69 4.30%
1938 $3.56 -3.38%
1939 $3.36 -5.82%
1940 $3.27 -2.52%
1941 $3.45 5.62%
1942 $3.66 5.89%
1943 $3.70 1.04%
1944 $3.71 0.32%
1945 $3.69 -0.38%
1946 $3.76 1.84%
1947 $4.24 12.78%
1948 $4.83 13.92%
1949 $4.96 2.68%
1950 $4.92 -0.84%
1951 $5.06 2.85%
1952 $5.20 2.66%
1953 $5.53 6.49%
1954 $5.64 1.87%
1955 $5.75 1.93%
1956 $5.94 3.43%
1957 $6.17 3.74%
1958 $6.08 -1.39%
1959 $6.15 1.21%
1960 $6.33 2.85%
1961 $6.26 -1.04%
1962 $6.30 0.57%
1963 $6.29 -0.16%
1964 $6.26 -0.50%
1965 $6.53 4.42%
1966 $6.65 1.83%
1967 $6.85 2.94%
1968 $6.95 1.43%
1969 $7.18 3.33%
1970 $7.24 0.83%
1971 $7.28 0.55%
1972 $7.37 1.26%
1973 $8.09 9.77%
1974 $10.95 35.36%
1975 $11.70 6.83%
1976 $12.19 4.16%
1977 $12.89 5.78%
1978 $13.44 4.30%
1979 $18.20 35.34%
1980 $25.29 38.97%
1981 $28.14 11.30%
1982 $26.66 -5.27%
1983 $25.78 -3.31%
1984 $25.35 -1.64%
1985 $25.57 0.84%
1986 $19.97 -21.91%
1987 $20.78 4.07%
1988 $20.95 0.84%
1989 $22.94 9.49%
1990 $26.18 14.14%
1991 $25.73 -1.72%
1992 $25.67 -0.26%
1993 $25.34 -1.26%
1994 $25.46 0.46%
1995 $25.88 1.64%
1996 $27.45 6.09%
1997 $27.43 -0.10%
1998 $23.76 -13.36%
1999 $25.97 9.28%
2000 $33.34 28.40%
2001 $32.15 -3.58%
2002 $30.08 -6.42%
2003 $35.04 16.48%
2004 $41.40 18.17%
2005 $50.48 21.93%
2006 $57.03 12.97%
2007 $61.71 8.19%
2008 $71.95 16.60%
2009 $52.27 -27.36%
2010 $61.87 18.38%
2011 $78.23 26.45%
2012 $80.77 3.24%
2013 $78.46 -2.86%
2014 $75.43 -3.86%
2015 $54.98 -27.12%
2016 $48.65 -11.51%
2017 $54.92 12.88%
2018 $62.39 13.61%
2019 $60.16 -3.57%
2020 $50.34 -16.32%
2021 $68.46 36.00%*
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Gasoline (all types):

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
CPI 13.150 13.633 14.220 13.740 12.940 12.614 13.323 14.108 14.254 14.300 14.246 14.508 16.363 18.640 19.140 18.980 19.520 20.040 21.340 21.740 22.160 22.920 23.777 23.446 23.731 24.408 24.154 24.292 24.254 24.133 25.200 25.660 26.415 26.792 27.685 27.915 28.069 28.423 31.200 42.231 45.115 46.992 49.708 51.846 70.169 97.515 108.531 102.808 99.400 97.769 98.592 76.992 80.123 80.800 88.469 100.977 99.238 98.977 97.731 98.185 99.792 105.869 105.762 91.631 100.131 128.569 123.969 116.008 135.123 159.669 194.685 219.938 237.959 277.457 201.555 238.594 301.694 311.470 302.577 290.889 212.007 187.602 211.770 240.599 232.003 194.130 264.017

Adjust gas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2021 / CPI in 1935 * 1935 USD value = 2021 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Gasoline (all types) was 13.150 in the year 1935 and 264.017 in 2021:

264.017 / 13.150 * $3.41 = $68.46

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3.41 in 1935 has the same "purchasing power" as $68.46 in 2021 (in the CPI category of Gasoline (all types)).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Gasoline (all types) in 1935. In addition to gas, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

» Read more about inflation and investment.