Gas price history from 1984 through 2020

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Prices for Gas, 1984-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for gasoline (all types) were 99.53% higher in 2020 versus 1984 (a $19.91 difference in value).

Between 1984 and 2020: Gas experienced an average inflation rate of 1.94% per year. In other words, gas costing $20 in the year 1984 would cost $39.91 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.56% during this same period, inflation for gas was lower.

Price Inflation for Gasoline (all types) since 1984

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2000 (28.43%), 2009 (-27.36%), and 2015 (-27.12%).

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

Year	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
CPI	97.767	98.600	76.967	80.133	80.833	88.467	100.967	99.233	98.967	97.733	98.200	99.800	105.867	105.767	91.600	100.133	128.600	124.000	116.000	135.133	159.700	194.700	219.933	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	195.072

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Buying power of $20 since 1984

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gas, over time, for $20 beginning in 1984. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1984	$20.00	-
1985	$20.17	0.85%
1986	$15.74	-21.94%
1987	$16.39	4.11%
1988	$16.54	0.87%
1989	$18.10	9.44%
1990	$20.65	14.13%
1991	$20.30	-1.72%
1992	$20.25	-0.27%
1993	$19.99	-1.25%
1994	$20.09	0.48%
1995	$20.42	1.63%
1996	$21.66	6.08%
1997	$21.64	-0.09%
1998	$18.74	-13.39%
1999	$20.48	9.32%
2000	$26.31	28.43%
2001	$25.37	-3.58%
2002	$23.73	-6.45%
2003	$27.64	16.49%
2004	$32.67	18.18%
2005	$39.83	21.92%
2006	$44.99	12.96%
2007	$48.68	8.20%
2008	$56.76	16.60%
2009	$41.23	-27.36%
2010	$48.81	18.38%
2011	$61.72	26.45%
2012	$63.72	3.24%
2013	$61.90	-2.86%
2014	$59.51	-3.86%
2015	$43.37	-27.12%
2016	$38.38	-11.51%
2017	$43.32	12.88%
2018	$49.22	13.61%
2019	$47.46	-3.57%
2020	$39.91	-15.92%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for gas, 1984-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1984 * 1984 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Gasoline (all types) was 97.767 in the year 1984 and 195.072 in 2020:

195.072 / 97.767 * $20 = $39.91

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1984 has the same "purchasing power" as $39.91 in 2020 (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 1984. In addition to gas, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.