Data
U.S. Gas Price History, 2000 to 2026: Every Year at a Glance
Annual average, high, and low U.S. retail gasoline prices from 2000 through 2026, with the events behind each move and why the 2022 record still stands.
Gas prices have a short memory in public discussion. A number that felt catastrophic in 2008 looks ordinary today, and a price that felt normal in 2016 now looks impossibly cheap. The only way to judge the current price is against a long series.
This table uses EIA weekly retail data for U.S. regular gasoline, averaged by calendar year. All figures are nominal dollars per gallon, including taxes, and are not adjusted for inflation.
Annual U.S. average gas prices, 2000–2026
| Year | Annual average | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $1.48 | $1.26 | $1.68 |
| 2001 | $1.42 | $1.06 | $1.71 |
| 2002 | $1.34 | $1.10 | $1.46 |
| 2003 | $1.56 | $1.44 | $1.75 |
| 2004 | $1.85 | $1.51 | $2.06 |
| 2005 | $2.27 | $1.78 | $3.07 |
| 2006 | $2.57 | $2.20 | $3.04 |
| 2007 | $2.80 | $2.17 | $3.22 |
| 2008 | $3.25 | $1.61 | $4.11 |
| 2009 | $2.35 | $1.68 | $2.69 |
| 2010 | $2.78 | $2.61 | $3.05 |
| 2011 | $3.52 | $3.07 | $3.96 |
| 2012 | $3.62 | $3.25 | $3.94 |
| 2013 | $3.50 | $3.19 | $3.78 |
| 2014 | $3.36 | $2.30 | $3.71 |
| 2015 | $2.43 | $2.03 | $2.83 |
| 2016 | $2.14 | $1.72 | $2.40 |
| 2017 | $2.41 | $2.26 | $2.69 |
| 2018 | $2.72 | $2.27 | $2.96 |
| 2019 | $2.60 | $2.24 | $2.90 |
| 2020 | $2.17 | $1.77 | $2.58 |
| 2021 | $3.01 | $2.25 | $3.41 |
| 2022 | $3.95 | $3.09 | $5.01 |
| 2023 | $3.52 | $3.05 | $3.88 |
| 2024 | $3.30 | $3.01 | $3.67 |
| 2025 | $3.10 | $2.81 | $3.24 |
| 2026 | $3.87 | $2.78 | $4.50 |
2026 is year-to-date through the week ending October 26.
The five eras behind the numbers
2000–2004: the cheap era
Prices ranged from $1.06 to $2.06. The U.S. average spent most of this period under $1.60. Global demand was moderate, refining capacity was adequate, and the dollar was strong.
2005–2008: the first spike
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita shut down Gulf Coast refineries in 2005, pushing prices to $3.07. Then crude climbed toward $140 a barrel, and the national average hit $4.114 in July 2008. When the financial crisis hit, prices collapsed to $1.61 by December — the fastest round trip in the series.
2009–2014: the high plateau
After the recession, prices recovered and then stayed high for five years. The 2011–2013 annual averages were all above $3.50. The Arab Spring, sanctions on Iran, and strong Chinese demand kept crude expensive. The U.S. shale boom was growing but had not yet overwhelmed the market.
2015–2020: the shale era
U.S. oil production surged, OPEC chose market share over price in late 2014, and prices fell. Annual averages stayed between $2.14 and $2.72 for six years, except for 2018. In April 2020, demand collapsed during the pandemic and the weekly average fell to $1.77.
2021–2026: the new volatility
Demand returned faster than supply. The national average rose from $2.25 in early 2021 to a record $5.006 in June 2022, driven by the post-pandemic recovery and the war in Ukraine. Prices then fell for three years, bottoming at $2.81 in 2025, before rising again through 2026 to a peak of about $4.50.
Why 2022 still holds the record
The 2026 peak of $4.50 is high by recent standards but still about 50 cents below the June 2022 record. Three factors kept 2022 higher:
- Crude prices were higher relative to the dollar.
- Refining capacity was tighter after several closures during the pandemic.
- The war in Ukraine created a genuine supply shock in global petroleum markets, not just a demand surge.
The 2026 increase has been driven more by refining tightness and seasonal factors, which tend to fade faster than a geopolitical supply shock.
Nominal vs. real prices
These figures are nominal. Adjusted for inflation, the 2008 peak of $4.11 is roughly comparable to $6 in 2026 dollars. That means the 2022 record is not as far above 2008 as the raw numbers imply — in real terms, the two spikes are much closer.
This matters for interpreting headlines. A “$4 gas” headline in 2026 describes a price that is high but not unprecedented in purchasing-power terms.
What the history teaches
- Prices always come back down. Every spike in this series was followed by a decline, usually within 6 to 18 months.
- The declines are slower than the spikes. Retail prices rise quickly and fall slowly, which is the rockets-and-feathers pattern.
- Regional spreads are persistent. California has been above the national average in every week of this series; Texas has been below it.
- Annual averages hide the swings. 2022 averaged $3.95 but peaked at $5.01 — a 27 percent gap within one year.
For the current week’s number, see the national average or your state page. For the mechanics, read how gas prices are set.
Frequently asked questions
What was the highest gas price in U.S. history?
The highest weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline was $5.006 per gallon in the week of June 13, 2022, according to EIA weekly retail data. The highest single-year average was 2022 at about $3.95.
What was the lowest gas price since 2000?
The lowest weekly average since 2000 was $1.059 per gallon in December 2001, after demand fell following the September 11 attacks. The lowest annual average was 2002 at about $1.34.
Were gas prices higher in 2008 than in 2022?
No. The 2008 weekly peak was $4.114 in July. The 2022 peak was $5.006. However, $4.11 in 2008 had more purchasing power than $5.01 in 2022, so in inflation-adjusted terms the two peaks are closer than the raw numbers suggest.
Why are these prices different from what I remember paying?
This table shows national weekly averages, not station prices. Your local price can be 20 to 40 cents above or below the national figure depending on state taxes, distance from refineries, and local competition.
Check prices where you drive
Weekly state averages and metro benchmarks from EIA data.