How have gas prices in America changed through the years? Many people complain about high gas prices now, but when you look at past prices adjusted to inflation, it’s easy to see that today’s prices aren’t as bad as we think. PartsGeek.com’s 103-Year History of Gas Prices infographic looks at the retail price of a gallon of gas every year since 1918 and adjusts those prices for inflation to see when gas was truly most expensive in the United States.
It may be surprising to learn that, after inflation adjustment, the most expensive year for gas was back in 1918! Although the actual cost was just $0.25, today that price would be $4.27. Compare that to the retail price of a gallon of gas in 2020, which as of August was $2.26.
There are many things that can affect the price of gas including oil prices, wars, and economic recessions. While it’s unclear how the price of gas will change moving forward, it’s clear that anything is possible.
![A 103-Year History of Gas Prices in the U.S.](https://graphs.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/A-103-Year-History-of-Gas-Prices-in-the-U.S..png)