According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for gasoline (all types) were 1,615.46% higher in 2021 versus 1935 (a $323.09 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2021: Gas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.36% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gas costing $20 in the year 1935 would cost $343.09 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.49% during this same period, inflation for gas was lower.
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 | 16.362 | 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 | 225.582 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gas, over time, for $20 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 | $20.00 | - |
| 1936 | $20.74 | 3.68% |
| 1937 | $21.63 | 4.30% |
| 1938 | $20.90 | -3.38% |
| 1939 | $19.68 | -5.82% |
| 1940 | $19.19 | -2.52% |
| 1941 | $20.26 | 5.62% |
| 1942 | $21.46 | 5.89% |
| 1943 | $21.68 | 1.04% |
| 1944 | $21.75 | 0.32% |
| 1945 | $21.67 | -0.38% |
| 1946 | $22.06 | 1.84% |
| 1947 | $24.89 | 12.78% |
| 1948 | $28.35 | 13.92% |
| 1949 | $29.11 | 2.68% |
| 1950 | $28.87 | -0.84% |
| 1951 | $29.69 | 2.85% |
| 1952 | $30.48 | 2.66% |
| 1953 | $32.46 | 6.49% |
| 1954 | $33.06 | 1.87% |
| 1955 | $33.70 | 1.93% |
| 1956 | $34.86 | 3.43% |
| 1957 | $36.16 | 3.74% |
| 1958 | $35.66 | -1.39% |
| 1959 | $36.09 | 1.21% |
| 1960 | $37.12 | 2.85% |
| 1961 | $36.74 | -1.04% |
| 1962 | $36.95 | 0.57% |
| 1963 | $36.89 | -0.16% |
| 1964 | $36.70 | -0.50% |
| 1965 | $38.33 | 4.42% |
| 1966 | $39.03 | 1.83% |
| 1967 | $40.18 | 2.94% |
| 1968 | $40.75 | 1.43% |
| 1969 | $42.11 | 3.33% |
| 1970 | $42.46 | 0.83% |
| 1971 | $42.69 | 0.55% |
| 1972 | $43.23 | 1.26% |
| 1973 | $47.45 | 9.77% |
| 1974 | $64.23 | 35.36% |
| 1975 | $68.62 | 6.83% |
| 1976 | $71.47 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $75.60 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $78.85 | 4.30% |
| 1979 | $106.72 | 35.34% |
| 1980 | $148.31 | 38.97% |
| 1981 | $165.07 | 11.30% |
| 1982 | $156.36 | -5.27% |
| 1983 | $151.18 | -3.31% |
| 1984 | $148.70 | -1.64% |
| 1985 | $149.95 | 0.84% |
| 1986 | $117.10 | -21.91% |
| 1987 | $121.86 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $122.89 | 0.84% |
| 1989 | $134.55 | 9.49% |
| 1990 | $153.58 | 14.14% |
| 1991 | $150.93 | -1.72% |
| 1992 | $150.54 | -0.26% |
| 1993 | $148.64 | -1.26% |
| 1994 | $149.33 | 0.46% |
| 1995 | $151.78 | 1.64% |
| 1996 | $161.02 | 6.09% |
| 1997 | $160.85 | -0.10% |
| 1998 | $139.36 | -13.36% |
| 1999 | $152.29 | 9.28% |
| 2000 | $195.54 | 28.40% |
| 2001 | $188.55 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $176.44 | -6.42% |
| 2003 | $205.51 | 16.48% |
| 2004 | $242.84 | 18.17% |
| 2005 | $296.10 | 21.93% |
| 2006 | $334.51 | 12.97% |
| 2007 | $361.92 | 8.19% |
| 2008 | $421.99 | 16.60% |
| 2009 | $306.55 | -27.36% |
| 2010 | $362.88 | 18.38% |
| 2011 | $458.85 | 26.45% |
| 2012 | $473.72 | 3.24% |
| 2013 | $460.19 | -2.86% |
| 2014 | $442.42 | -3.86% |
| 2015 | $322.44 | -27.12% |
| 2016 | $285.33 | -11.51% |
| 2017 | $322.08 | 12.88% |
| 2018 | $365.93 | 13.61% |
| 2019 | $352.86 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $295.25 | -16.32% |
| 2021 | $343.09 | 16.20%* |