In the year 1971, the average retail price of gas was $0.36.
This is equivalent to $2.52 in 2022 dollars.
Note: We determine the value of a dollar using the Consumer Price Index from December of the previous year.
How much has gas gone up with inflation?
Here's how much the 1971 gasoline price of $0.36 would be worth over time, compared to the actual price from that year.
| Year | Inflation-adjusted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $2.32 | $2.28 |
| 2019 | $2.27 | $2.46 |
| 2018 | $2.23 | $2.46 |
| 2017 | $2.18 | $2.50 |
| 2016 | $2.14 | $2.51 |
| 2015 | $2.12 | $2.45 |
| 2014 | $2.11 | $3.37 |
| 2013 | $2.08 | $3.53 |
| 2012 | $2.04 | $3.64 |
| 2011 | $1.98 | $3.53 |
| 2010 | $1.95 | $2.79 |
| 2009 | $1.90 | $2.35 |
| 2008 | $1.90 | $3.27 |
| 2007 | $1.83 | $2.80 |
| 2006 | $1.78 | $2.59 |
| 2005 | $1.72 | $2.30 |
| 2004 | $1.67 | $1.88 |
| 2003 | $1.64 | $1.59 |
| 2002 | $1.60 | $1.36 |
| 2001 | $1.57 | $1.46 |
| 2000 | $1.52 | $1.51 |
| 1999 | $1.48 | $1.17 |
| 1998 | $1.46 | $1.06 |
| 1997 | $1.43 | $1.23 |
| 1996 | $1.39 | $1.23 |
| 1995 | $1.35 | $1.15 |
| 1994 | $1.32 | $1.11 |
| 1993 | $1.28 | $1.11 |
| 1992 | $1.25 | $1.13 |
| 1991 | $1.21 | $1.14 |
| 1990 | $1.14 | $1.15 |
| 1989 | $1.09 | $1.00 |
| 1988 | $1.04 | $0.90 |
| 1987 | $1.00 | $0.90 |
| 1986 | $0.99 | $0.86 |
| 1985 | $0.95 | $1.12 |
| 1984 | $0.92 | $1.13 |
| 1983 | $0.88 | $1.16 |
| 1982 | $0.85 | $1.22 |
| 1981 | $0.78 | $1.31 |
| 1980 | $0.69 | $1.19 |
| 1979 | $0.61 | $0.86 |
| 1978 | $0.56 | $0.63 |
| 1977 | $0.53 | $0.62 |
| 1976 | $0.50 | $0.59 |
| 1975 | $0.47 | $0.57 |
| 1974 | $0.42 | $0.53 |
| 1973 | $0.38 | $0.39 |
| 1972 | $0.37 | $0.36 |
| 1971 | $0.36 | $0.36 |