Thursday, April 4, 2019

US Gasoline Price History


Gasoline prices ranged between 17 cents/gal to 21 cents/gal from 1929 to 1940.  In 1940 the average price of gasoline was 18 cents/gal.  Average prices moved to 39 cents/gal in 1973. Gas prices rose to 59 cents/gal in 1974 and again to 86 cents/gal in 1979 and again to $1.19 in 1980. Gasoline prices in the US have risen 1261% since 1940.

See list of US average gasoline prices since 1940 below.

1940 $0.18
1941 $0.19
1942 $0.20
1943 $0.21
1944 $0.21
1945 $0.21
1946 $0.21
1947 $0.23
1948 $0.26
1949 $0.27
1950 $0.27
1951 $0.27
1952 $0.27
1953 $0.29
1954 $0.29
1955 $0.29
1956 $0.30
1957 $0.31
1958 $0.30
1959 $0.31
1960 $0.31
1961 $0.31
1962 $0.31
1963 $0.30
1964 $0.30
1965 $0.31
1967 $0.32
1968 $0.34
1969 $0.35
1970 $0.36
1971 $0.36
1972 $0.36
1973 $0.39
1974 $0.59
1975 $0.57
1976 $0.59
1977 $0.62
1978 $0.63
1979 $0.86
1980 $1.19
1981 $1.31
1982 $1.22
1983 $1.16
1984 $1.13
1985 $1.12
1986 $0.86
1987 $0.90
1988 $0.90
1989 $1.00
1990 $1.15
1991 $1.14
1992 $1.13
1993 $1.11
1994 $1.11
1995 $1.15
1996 $1.23
1997 $1.23
1998 $1.06
1999 $1.17
2000 $1.51
2001 $1.46
2002 $1.36
2003 $1.59
2004 $1.88
2005 $2.30
2006 $2.59
2007 $2.80
2008 $3.27
2009 $2.35
2010 $2.79
2011 $3.53
2012 $3.64
2013 $3.53
2014 $3.37
2015 $2.45


Comments

Oil prices have been on the rise since oil was $10 per barrel and cars got 10 miles per gallon.  US Gasoline prices were cheap from 1913 to the 1970s when demand exceeded supply.  The panic of the 2000s happened when we were told we were running out of oil.  Fracking changed that and so did the discovery of oil in the US. I expect gasoline prices to moderate in the $2.00 to $3.00 per gallon range. We now get 30 to 60 mpg on our cars and the electric car fad will reduce demand.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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