Gasoline prices in the United States have experienced significant fluctuations over the past three decades, with 2024 seeing an average price of 3.3 U.S. dollars per gallon. This marks a notable decrease from the record high of 3.95 U.S. dollars per gallon in 2022, yet remains considerably higher than prices seen in the early 2000s. Despite this, American consumers continue to enjoy relatively low gasoline prices compared to many other countries, with some European countries paying more than double the U.S. average. Drivers in Hawaii and California pay the most at the pump Gasoline prices vary significantly across the United States, with Hawaii and California consistently ranking as the most expensive states for this fuel. As of January 1, 2025, Hawaii's average price for regular gasoline was 4.54 U.S. dollars per gallon, nearly 1.5 dollars above the national average. California's high prices are largely attributed to its steep gasoline taxes, which reached 68.1 U.S. cents per gallon in January 2024. These taxes play a crucial role in shaping retail prices and are typically reinvested in road infrastructure, demonstrating the direct link between fuel costs and transportation development. Patterns in gasoline consumption In a global context, the United States maintains some of the lowest conventional motor fuel prices among high-income countries. This is largely due to its position as the world's largest crude oil producer, allowing it to keep retail prices comparatively low. Despite fluctuations in price, gasoline consumption in the U.S. remains robust, averaging around 8.5 million barrels per day in 2024. Consumption tends to be highest in the summer months and lowest in the winter months due to changing driving behavior.

This statistic shows the average prices of diesel fuel in Romania from 2008 to 2021 in euros per liter. It outlines that the average price of diesel fuel peaked in 2014 at 1.36 euros per liter but decreased again in the following years to 1.01 euros per liter in 2021. A monthly evolution of the diesel prices in Romania provides with an even clearer overview of the situation. In other words, diesel prices peaked in October 2018 at 114 British pence per liter, and slowly started a decreasing trend, amounting to 94.6 British pence per liter by March 2021.

Oil industry

Romania is known for its substantial oil refinery capacity and was considered to be the most important European producer of oil in World War II. In 2019, OMV Petrom S.A. was the leading company in the oil industry in the country, with a turnover worth 19.8 billion Romanian lei and a net profit of more that 3.5 billion Romanian lei. At the same time, the company had approximately 13.3 thousand employees by 2018.

Natural gas

When it comes to natural gas reserves, in 2009 Romania ranked 30th among countries with proved reserves of natural gas and has a gas network of more than 42 thousand kilometers. In the middle of the 20th century, Romania was the first natural gas exporter in Europe, and starting with the late 70s, it began importing gas from the Soviet Union. As for natural gas consumption, it peaked in 2005 at 16.2 billion cubic meters, and later dropped to 10.9 billion cubic meters by 2019.

United States - PADD I (East Coast District) Midgrade Conventional Gas Price was 3.51400 $ per Gallon in October of 2021, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - PADD I (East Coast District) Midgrade Conventional Gas Price reached a record high of 4.13700 in July of 2008 and a record low of 0.98000 in February of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - PADD I (East Coast District) Midgrade Conventional Gas Price - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

United States Motor Gasoline Price: Midgrade: EIA: Resale: Average data was reported at 2.214 USD/gal in Apr 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.047 USD/gal for Mar 2018. United States Motor Gasoline Price: Midgrade: EIA: Resale: Average data is updated monthly, averaging 1.110 USD/gal from Jan 1989 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 352 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.405 USD/gal in Jun 2008 and a record low of 0.484 USD/gal in Feb 1999. United States Motor Gasoline Price: Midgrade: EIA: Resale: Average data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P002: Energy Price.

This statistic shows the average price for gas oil (excluding VAT), in pence per liter, in the United Kingdom (UK) between December 2008 and December 2018. The year on year price of gas oil increased strongly between 2008 and 2011 after which it began to slightly decrease, most dramatically over 2014 and 2015 when gas oil prices declined to approximately 56% of the December 2013 price. In 2018, the gas oil price reached 53.29 pence per liter.

United States Motor Gasoline Price: All Grades: EIA: Resale: Bulk data was reported at 1.969 USD/gal in Apr 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.821 USD/gal for Mar 2018. United States Motor Gasoline Price: All Grades: EIA: Resale: Bulk data is updated monthly, averaging 1.373 USD/gal from Jan 1994 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 292 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.278 USD/gal in Jun 2008 and a record low of 0.343 USD/gal in Dec 1998. United States Motor Gasoline Price: All Grades: EIA: Resale: Bulk data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P002: Energy Price.

As of December 2024, the average price for premium gasoline in Germany was around 179.4 euro cents per liter. This was a slight decrease compared to the year before.

Moldova MD: Pump Price for Diesel Fuel: USD per Liter data was reported at 0.690 USD in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.160 USD for 2014. Moldova MD: Pump Price for Diesel Fuel: USD per Liter data is updated yearly, averaging 1.080 USD from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.400 USD in 2012 and a record low of 0.690 USD in 2016. Moldova MD: Pump Price for Diesel Fuel: USD per Liter data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.World Bank.WDI: Transportation. Fuel prices refer to the pump prices of the most widely sold grade of diesel fuel. Prices have been converted from the local currency to U.S. dollars.; ; German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).; Median;

This statistic shows the average prices of unleaded gasoline (95 RON) in Romania from 2008 to 2021 in euros per liter. It shows that the average price of unleaded gasoline decreased in 2009 to 84 euro cents per liter, but increased significantly over the following years amounting to one euro per liter in 2021.

Diesel fuel prices in Bulgaria decreased by seven euro cents per liter in the period of consideration, despite some fluctuation. Between 2008 and 2021, figures peaked at 1.27 euros per liter in 2012. The lowest average diesel price was seen in 2009, at 84 euro cents per liter. By 2021, diesel was sold by an average of 1.06 euros per liter.

Since 2008, average price of unleaded gasoline (95 RON) in Bulgaria fluctuated, reaching 1.02 euros per liter in 2021. In the period of consideration, figures increased by 0.02 euros per liter, peaking at 1.32 euros per liter in 2013. Prices reached the lowest in 2009, at 0.89 euros per liter.

In 2021, average price of unleaded gasoline (95 RON) in Greece stood at 1.57 euros per liter. In the period of consideration, figures presented a trend of growth despite some fluctuation. Between 2000 and 2021, unleaded gasoline price increased by 79 euro cents per liter, peaking at 1.75 euros per liter in 2012.

This statistic shows the average price for bulk diesel (excluding VAT), in pence per liter, in the United Kingdom (UK) between December 2008 and December 2018. The year on year price of bulk diesel increased strongly between 2008 and 2011 after which it began to slightly decrease. By December 2014 the average price for a liter of bulk diesel had fallen below one pound. The price continued to fall in 2015, with one liter of bulk diesel costing less than 82 pence but increased again, reaching 99.77 pence per liter in 2018.

The 2025 annual OPEC oil price stood at 78.1 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of February. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which amounted to 79.86 U.S. dollars. The abbreviation OPEC stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and includes Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the OPEC is to coordinate the oil policies of its member states. It was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The OPEC Reference Basket The OPEC crude oil price is defined by the price of the so-called OPEC (Reference) basket. This basket is an average of prices of the various petroleum blends that are produced by the OPEC members. Some of these oil blends are, for example: Saharan Blend from Algeria, Basra Light from Iraq, Arab Light from Saudi Arabia, BCF 17 from Venezuela, et cetera. By increasing and decreasing its oil production, OPEC tries to keep the price between a given maxima and minima. Benchmark crude oil The OPEC basket is one of the most important benchmarks for crude oil prices worldwide. Other significant benchmarks are UK Brent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), and Dubai Crude (Fateh). Because there are many types and grades of oil, such benchmarks are indispensable for referencing them on the global oil market. The 2024 fall in prices was the result of weakened demand outlooks, primarily from China.

Unleaded 95 fuel prices amounted to 164.4 pence per liter in London in September 2022. This was down from a peak of 188.6 pence per liter recorded in June 2022. During the period in consideration, figures increased significantly as Europe was gripped by an energy supply shortages and crude oil prices reached highs not seen since 2008. In general, unleaded 95 octane was the cheapest fuel type in London, when compared to diesel prices.

In 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, only 13.8 billion gallons of fuel were consumed by U.S. airlines, compared to a high of 18.43 billion gallons in 2007. While the consumption of airline fuel in the United States has increased in recent years, it is yet to surpass the levels seen prior to the 2008 recession. Commercial airlines The above figures include all commercial air carriers based in the U.S. who carry cargo and/or passengers on domestic or international flights, and with annual revenue of over 20 million U.S. dollars. Excluded is airline fuel used for military or private flights. Given that the U.S. has the largest business and military aircraft fleets in the world, if included the figures would be appreciably higher. Overall growth in commercial aviation Given the commercial aviation market in the U.S. has experienced strong growth since 2009, with revenue figures and passenger traffic well above pre-recession levels, the fact that fuel consumption is currently lower than in 2007 may appear curious. The likely explanation is that the cost of airline fuel reached record levels around 2012, forcing airlines to find ways to decrease fuel consumption wherever possible.

Red diesel prices rose in 2017 for the first time in five years. On average, buyers had to pay 50.2 pence per liter of red Diesel in the United Kingdom in 2017. The average price had risen by 52.4 pence between 2003 and 2012, before once again falling to 2017’s figures.

What is red diesel?

Red diesel is the same fuel as regular or white diesel. The fuel is heavily rebated and only to be used for agricultural, construction, and forestry purposes. It powers off-road vehicles and machinery in these industries and is not legal for use in road vehicles. A red dye is added to distinguish it from regular diesel. Red diesel has a lower tax rate to allow the above-mentioned industries to operate at a profit.

Regular diesel prices

One can surmise how much the different tax rate matters when we look at regular diesel prices. The lowest average price for white diesel in the past few years was 101 pence per liter in February of 2016. In March 2019 it was 132 pence. Compared to the regional differences in white diesel price, the price difference between the red and white variants is significantly higher. For more information on the fossil fuel industry in the UK visit our topic page here.

The fuel duty for these fuels has remained at 57.95 pence per liter since March 23, 2011. Since April 1, 2008, the fuel duty on unleaded petrol has been the same as the fuel duty on diesel.