Special Report

What a Gallon of Gas Cost the Year You Were Born

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The price of gasoline is one of the most closely watched markets — and it has been since Henry Ford put America in automobiles early in the 20th century.

Gas prices are affected by a host of factors. Besides supply and demand, these factors include foreign and domestic oil production, consumption, financial markets, refining capacity, supply chain disruptions, transportation costs, futures speculation, and the value of the U.S. dollar.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to determine the average cost of a gallon of gas every year since 1929.

Americans have been roiled by oil-price turbulence in the past, most notably in the early 1970s. The cost of a barrel of oil doubled after OPEC led an oil embargo to retaliate against the United States support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Recent attacks by Iran on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz — the critical passageway for oil to reach Europe and other destinations — have rattled the energy markets, slightly raising prices of crude. Iran is one of these 15 countries that control the world’s oil.

Even so, we are in a period of relative oil price stability. Crude oil prices in 2018 averaged around $61.40 a barrel, and the price of a gallon of gasoline was $2.74, well below the inflation-adjusted all-time high annual average of $3.94 in 2012. States also impose gasoline taxes, which vary from state to state and affect the average price nationwide. Here are the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes.

Click here to see the cost of gas the year you were born
Click here to read our methodology

Hulton Collection / Getty Images

1929
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($2.49)
> U.S. oil production: 2.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.27 ($14.76)

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Hulton Collection / Getty Images

1930
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.20 ($2.42)
> U.S. oil production: 2.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.19 ($14.44)

B&M Noskowski / Getty Images

1931
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.17 ($2.31)
> U.S. oil production: 2.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $0.65 ($8.83)

schlol / Getty Images

1932
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.18 ($2.76)
> U.S. oil production: 2.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $0.87 ($13.41)

ehughes / Getty Images

1933
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.18 ($2.85)
> U.S. oil production: 2.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $0.67 ($10.70)

ehughes / Getty Images

1934
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.19 ($2.88)
> U.S. oil production: 2.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.00 ($15.28)

NNehring / Getty Images

1935
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.19 ($2.81)
> U.S. oil production: 2.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $0.97 ($14.47)

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Sjo / Getty Images

1936
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.19 ($2.87)
> U.S. oil production: 3.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.09 ($16.11)

Mshake / Getty Images

1937
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.20 ($2.85)
> U.S. oil production: 3.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.18 ($16.83)

Fox Photos / Getty Images

1938
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.20 ($2.85)
> U.S. oil production: 3.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.13 ($16.49)

Sjo / Getty Images

1939
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.19 ($2.76)
> U.S. oil production: 3.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.02 ($15.03)

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H. Armstrong Roberts / Getty Images

1940
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.18 ($2.69)
> U.S. oil production: 4.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.02 ($14.90)

NNehring / Getty Images

1941
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.19 ($2.65)
> U.S. oil production: 3.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.14 ($15.68)

askhamdesign / Getty Images

1942
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.20 ($2.50)
> U.S. oil production: 3.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.19 ($14.56)

Fox Photos / Getty Images

1943
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($2.30)
> U.S. oil production: 4.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.20 ($13.44)

Keystone / Getty Images

1944
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($2.18)
> U.S. oil production: 4.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.21 ($12.82)

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

1945
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.20 ($2.09)
> U.S. gas consumption: 0.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 173.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 4.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.22 ($12.43)

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NNehring / Getty Images

1946
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.21 ($1.98)
> U.S. gas consumption: 0.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 214.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 4.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.41 ($13.43)

Nancy Nehring / Getty Images

1947
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.23 ($2.00)
> U.S. gas consumption: 0.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 225.4 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $1.93 ($16.69)

Nancy Nehring / Getty Images

1948
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.26 ($2.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 0.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 239.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.60 ($21.28)

anderm / Shutterstock.com

1949
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.21)
> U.S. gas consumption: 0.9 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 247.7 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.54 ($20.95)

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DutchScenery / Getty Images

1950
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.18)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.0 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 263.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.51 ($20.46)

NNehring / Getty Images

1951
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.08)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 295.5 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.53 ($19.31)

Charles Harker / Shutterstock.com

1952
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.27 ($2.05)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 288.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.53 ($18.92)

NNehring / Getty Images

1953
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 297.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.68 ($19.78)

Sjo / Getty Images

1954
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 300.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.78 ($20.35)

patty_c / Getty Images

1955
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.29 ($2.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 320.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.77 ($20.20)

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Jsheets19 / Getty Images

1956
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($2.14)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 322.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.79 ($19.94)

RBeniquez / Getty Images

1957
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($2.15)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 322.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.09 ($21.44)

ehughes / Getty Images

1958
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($2.06)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 325.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.01 ($20.40)

Alexandra Studio / Toronto History / Flickr

1959
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($2.04)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 332.7 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.90 ($19.37)

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B&M Noskowski / Getty Images

1960
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($2.04)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 337.7 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($18.92)

Hans Christiansson / Shutterstock.com

1961
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($2.00)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 337.4 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.89 ($18.79)

Joe_Potato / Getty Images

1962
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.97)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.5 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 345.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.90 ($18.64)

Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images

1963
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($1.93)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 351.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.89 ($18.36)

marcduf / Getty Images

1964
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.30 ($1.90)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 352.7 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($18.03)

Nancy Nehring / Getty Images

1965
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.31 ($1.93)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 362.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.86 ($17.65)

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Orange County Archives / Flickr

1966
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.32 ($1.93)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 375.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.88 ($17.34)

ehughes / Getty Images

1967
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.33 ($1.95)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 382.5 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.92 ($17.15)

TECC / iStock

1968
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.34 ($1.90)
> U.S. gas consumption: 1.9 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 402.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $2.94 ($16.61)

NASA on the Commons / Flickr

1969
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.35 ($1.88)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.0 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 418.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.09 ($16.71)

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IvoShandor / Wikimedia Commons

1970
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.84)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 432.5 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.18 ($16.43)

Khaosaming / Wikimedia Commons

1971
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.80)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 444.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.39 ($16.80)

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

1972
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.36 ($1.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 467.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.39 ($16.24)

David Falconer / Wikimedia Commons

1973
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.39 ($1.76)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 482.8 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $3.89 ($17.69)

David Falconer / Wikimedia Commons

1974
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.53 ($2.19)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 468.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $6.87 ($28.29)

The U.S. National Archives / Flickr

1975
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.57 ($2.16)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 473.8 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $7.67 ($29.16)

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CC0 Public Domain

1976
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.59 ($2.13)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 491.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $8.19 ($29.52)

tomeng / Getty Images

1977
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.62 ($2.10)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 499.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $8.57 ($29.00)

Pixabay

1978
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.63 ($1.98)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 510.5 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $9.00 ($28.47)

Warren K. Leffler / Wikimedia Commons

1979
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.86 ($2.49)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 479.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $12.64 ($36.72)

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Dan Lockton / Flickr

1980
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.19 ($3.12)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 445.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $21.59 ($56.63)

Kieran White / Wikimedia Commons

1981
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.31 ($3.16)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 440.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $31.77 ($76.48)

Aleksejs Bergmanis / Getty Images

1982
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.22 ($2.79)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 437.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $28.52 ($65.04)

edurivero / Getty Images

1983
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.16 ($2.53)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 434.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $26.19 ($57.29)

Thinkstock

1984
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.13 ($2.38)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 436.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.9 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $25.88 ($54.56)

Dan Lockton / Flickr

1985
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.12 ($2.27)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.5 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 440.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $24.09 ($49.07)

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DeFacto / Wikimedia Commons

1986
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.86 ($1.71)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 449.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $12.51 ($24.94)

Sjo / Getty Images

1987
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.90 ($1.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 455.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $15.40 ($29.78)

Whiteway / Getty Images

1988
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $0.90 ($1.68)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 461.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $12.58 ($23.41)

NOAA's National Ocean Service / Wikimedia Commons

1989
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.00 ($1.78)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 455.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $15.86 ($28.28)

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Thinkstock

1990
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.15 ($1.96)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 444.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $20.03 ($34.22)

Dan Lockton / Flickr

1991
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.14 ($1.88)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.6 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 437.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $16.54 ($27.34)

stephanie phillips / Getty Images

1992
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.13 ($1.81)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 438.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $15.99 ($25.75)

Dan Lockton / Flickr

1993
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.11 ($1.74)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.7 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 444.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $14.25 ($22.39)

Dan Lockton / Flickr

1994
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.11 ($1.71)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 447.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $13.19 ($20.30)

Thinkstock

1995
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.15 ($1.73)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.8 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 454.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $14.62 ($22.03)

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JustinHMoss / Getty Images

1996
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.23 ($1.82)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.9 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 457.3 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $18.46 ($27.24)

Thinkstock

1997
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.23 ($1.79)
> U.S. gas consumption: 2.9 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 458.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $17.23 ($24.99)

Thinkstock

1998
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.06 ($1.52)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.0 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 468.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $10.87 ($15.64)

Dan Lockton / Flickr

1999
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.17 ($1.65)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 474.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.9 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $15.56 ($22.06)

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Thinkstock

2000
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.51 ($2.09)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 461.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $26.72 ($36.96)

The Car Spy / Wikimedia Commons

2001
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.46 ($1.98)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.1 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 463.2 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $21.84 ($29.64)

Thinkstock

2002
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.36 ($1.82)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 471.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.7 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $22.51 ($30.16)

stephanie phillips / Getty Images

2003
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.59 ($2.09)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 472.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $27.56 ($36.22)

David McNew / Getty Images

2004
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $1.88 ($2.41)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 478.0 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $36.77 ($47.15)

Lance Cpl. Drew Barker / Official U.S. Marine Corps

2005
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.30 ($2.86)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 475.1 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.2 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $50.28 ($62.69)

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Pixabay

2006
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.59 ($3.14)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 475.4 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $59.69 ($72.45)

Thinkstock

2007
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.80 ($3.32)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 472.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.1 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $66.52 ($78.74)

Sjo / Getty Images

2008
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.27 ($3.75)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 454.4 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $94.04 ($108.07)

Thinkstock

2009
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.35 ($2.70)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 449.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.3 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $56.35 ($64.82)

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2010
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.79 ($3.15)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 445.6 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $74.71 ($84.49)

Jet Fabara / US Air Force photo

2011
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.53 ($3.89)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 430.5 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 5.6 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $95.73 ($105.58)

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

2012
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.64 ($3.94)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 424.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 6.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $94.52 ($102.30)

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2013
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.53 ($3.77)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.2 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 428.4 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 7.5 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $95.99 ($102.51)

Tramino / Getty Images

2014
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $3.37 ($3.54)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.3 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 428.8 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.8 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $87.39 ($91.95)

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2015
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.45 ($2.57)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 437.8 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $44.39 ($46.59)

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

2016
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.14 ($2.22)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 442.9 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 8.9 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $38.29 ($39.76)

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

2017
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.41 ($2.46)
> U.S. gas consumption: 3.4 billion barrels
> Per capita gas consumption: 439.7 gallons
> U.S. oil production: 9.4 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $48.05 ($49.03)

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

2018
> Price per gallon (inflation adj.): $2.74 ($2.74)
> U.S. gas consumption: N/A
> Per capita gas consumption: N/A
> U.S. oil production: 11.0 million barrels per day
> Price of a barrel of oil (inflation adj.): $61.40

Methodology

To identify the price of gas the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the inflation-adjusted annual average price of a gallon of regular gasoline (leaded pre-1990) from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Energy Review.

The average price of a barrel of crude oil and annual gasoline consumption also came from the EIA. Annual U.S. crude oil imports and production also came from the EIA.

Per-capita gas consumption was calculated using population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. All inflation-adjusted prices are tied to 2019 dollars.

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