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.

U.S. gasoline prices increased across all major grades in February 2025. Regular gasoline prices rose to an average of 3.12 U.S. dollars per gallon. In the period of consideration, gasoline prices reached their highest level in June 2022. Differences in fuel grades Fuel grades at U.S. gas stations are differentiated by octane level. Higher grade fuels have higher octane levels, meaning that the fuel can be compressed more in the engine. This enables high-performance engines to create more power. Fuel may also vary from state to state and pump to pump. Some cities also have regulations on gasoline in order to improve air quality. Bioethanol is added to gasoline in some cases to meet the renewable fuel standard. Gasoline-run engines are able to run on blends with a bioethanol percentage of up to 25 percent. Gasoline prices reach historic high Primarily a result of the Russia-Ukraine war and inflation, the annual retail price of gasoline reached a new historic high in 2022, climbing to nearly four U.S. dollars per gallon. By 2023, annual prices had decreased again slightly, reaching 2013 levels.

In the second quarter of 2022, the average retail price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at around 4.49 U.S. dollars, up from the previous quarter. A glut in oil supply between 2014 and 2016 forced down prices and led to a low average U.S. gasoline price of roughly 1.9 U.S. dollars per gallon in the first quarter. Gasoline prices fluctuated considerably between 2019 and 2020 as a result of tensions between the United States and other oil exporters, such as Iran, and stifling oil demand during the Covid-19 pandemic. The price of West Texas Intermediate briefly dipped in the negative in April 2020. Seasonal price variations
There are periodic fluctuations in gasoline prices in the United States, where the second and third quarters are typically more expensive than the rest of the year. One of the factors contributing to changing gasoline prices is a decrease in production from refineries due to maintenance work in tandem with an increase in demand, as holiday goers make road-trips. Gasoline will revert to cheaper winter-grade in September. Annual motor vehicle consumption in the United States was around 128 billion gallons as of 2020.

This statistic shows the forecast average gas prices for the Memorial Day holiday period in the United States from 2010 to 2024. In 2024, the average price of gas during the Memorial Day holiday period was estimated at approximately 3.6 U.S. dollars per gallon.

The average price for regular gasoline in the United States stood at 3.08 U.S. dollars per gallon on March 17, 2025. This compared to a diesel price of 3.59 U.S. dollars per gallon. Prices for gasoline and diesel decreased that week. Real price surge of 2022 and 2023 still below 2011 to 2014 prices When looking at the real price of gasoline over time, U.S. drivers had to pay notably more in the years between 2011 and 2014. The surge in prices noted throughout 2022 and partly for 2023, which followed supply constraints, was still lower in terms of real U.S. dollars. U.S. on the lower-end spectrum of worldwide motor fuel prices The U.S. has some of the lowest conventional motor fuel prices in the world. Although fuel prices are usually higher in high-income countries, the U.S. profits from its position as the world’s largest crude oil producer and can keep retail prices for oil products comparatively low. For example, among high-income countries, prices for automotive premium gasoline (RON 95) were only lower in Russia and Saudi Arabia - countries where crude oil and oil product exports are in part restricted by sanctions, thus keeping domestic supply high.

One gallon of motor gasoline cost end users in the United States around 1.24 real U.S. dollars in 2023, down from 1.43 real U.S. dollars in the previous year. Figures in 2022 were impacted by that years surge in crude oil prices, following supply restraints related to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to the source, real dollars have been adjusted for inflation. They reflect the purchasing power of a U.S. dollar relative to the period from 1982 to 1984.

In February 2025, one gallon of diesel cost an average of 3.68 U.S. dollars in the United States. That was an increase compared to two months prior, which was the lowest price in the past 24-month period. Impact of crude prices on motor fuel consumer prices Diesel prices are primarily determined by the cost of crude oil. In fact, crude oil regularly accounts for around 50 percent of end consumer prices of diesel. As such, supply restrictions or weak demand outlooks influence prices at the pump. The fall in diesel prices noted in the latter half of 2024 is a reflection of lower crude prices. Diesel and gasoline price development The usage of distillate fuel oil began in the 1930s, but until further development in the 1960s, diesel vehicles were mostly applied to commercial use only. In the U.S., diesel-powered cars remain a fairly small portion of the automobile market and diesel consumption is far lower than gasoline consumption. In general, gasoline also tends to be more widely available than diesel fuel and usually sells for a lower retail price. However, diesel engines have better fuel economy than gasoline engines, and, as such, tend to be used for large commercial vehicles.

In August 2024, crude oil accounted for a 55 percent share of the retail cost of gasoline in the United States. Crude oil costs are the greatest determining factor for petroleum product prices such as gasoline. This is also reflected in the U.S. diesel price breakdown, with crude oil making up 50 percent of the retail price that same month. U.S. gasoline cost breakdown The end price that consumers pay for gasoline in the U.S. is made up of several different components. The weighting of these different costs in the end price of gasoline is also very dynamic depending on the market. In April 2020, just 25 percent of the cost of one U.S. gallon of gasoline was from the cost of crude oil as a result of the 2020 oil crisis. Other cost components are those associated with refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes. Residents in California pay the highest gasoline taxes out of all U.S. states, at 68.1 cents per gallon as of January 2024. U.S. gasoline prices Since 1980, U.S. gasoline prices have fluctuated greatly, usually reflecting the volatile nature of crude oil prices. The U.S. has some of the lowest unleaded premium prices in the world. When looking at the real U.S. gasoline price to end users, figures amounted to 1.24 real U.S. dollars per gallon in 2023. This ‘real’ U.S. dollars figure refers to the purchasing power of one U.S. dollar relative to the period of time between 1982 and 1984.

The average monthly price for natural gas in the United States amounted to 3.02 nominal U.S. dollars per million British thermal units (Btu) in December 2024. By contrast, natural gas prices in Europe were about four times higher than those in the U.S. Prices for Europe tend to be notably higher than those in the U.S. as the latter benefits from being a major hydrocarbon producer. Europe's import reliance European prices for natural gas rose most notable throughout the second half of 2021 and much of 2022, peaking at over 70 U.S. dollars per million Btu in August 2022. The sharp rise was due to supply chain issues and economic strain following the COVID-19 pandemic, which was further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. As a result of the war, many countries began looking for alternative sources, and Russian pipeline gas imports to the European Union declined as a result. Meanwhile, LNG was a great beneficiary, with LNG demand in Europe rising by more than 60 percent between 2021 and 2023. How domestic natural gas production shapes prices As intimated, the United States’ position among the leaders of worldwide natural gas production is one of the main reasons for why prices for this commodity are so low across the country. In 2023, the U.S. produced more than one trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which allays domestic demand and allows for far lower purchasing prices.

This statistic shows average annual U.S. gasoline prices in selected times of crisis between 1956 and 2011. In 1956, the year of the Suez crisis, the average annual gasoline price in the U.S. stood at 249.9 U.S. cents per gallon.

On January 1, 2025, the price of regular gasoline was highest in Hawaii, at around 4.54 U.S. dollars per gallon. This was some 1.5 dollars above the national average of 3.06 U.S. dollars. California ranked second, which follows it being the U.S. state with the highest gasoline tax. Tax impact on pump prices As of January 2024, California's gasoline tax reached 68.1 U.S. cents per gallon, far exceeding rates in other states. This tax burden plays a crucial role in shaping retail prices, with federal and state taxes being one of the strongest determinants of what consumers pay at the pump. The revenue generated from these taxes is typically reinvested in road infrastructure, demonstrating the direct link between fuel costs and transportation development. Winter months see lowest prices While taxes significantly influence gasoline prices, crude oil costs remain the primary factor, accounting for 55 percent of the retail price in August 2024. The volatility of crude oil prices directly impacts pump prices, as seen in the fluctuations over recent years. Conventional motor fuel prices, including gasoline and diesel, are generally lowest in the winter months. This is due to generally lower demand during those months, as well as the winter fuel blend being less expensive to produce than the summer alternative.

Natural gas prices are the highest in the residential sector. In 2023, U.S. households paid an all time high average of 15.2 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic feet. Commercial natural gas costs were second-highest, while prices in the electric power sector were the lowest, at around four U.S. dollars on average. Prices for the industrial and electric power customers tend to be close to the wholesale electricity price. All sectors saw a year-on-year increase in natural gas prices in 2022 due to the decline in U.S. natural gas production in the first quarter of 2022, which resulted in high withdrawals of natural gas from storage and an increase in average natural gas prices. The growing natural gas market In recent years, the average natural gas prices for all sectors have been increasing in the United States. In 2022, the residential sector witnessed an increase in natural gas prices higher than 2008, while natural gas prices for other sectors were still lower despite increases in average natural gas prices for those sectors. Meanwhile, consumption of natural gas has increased more than any other fuel type following the 2008 Recession. Petroleum consumption has been more variable, and use of coal has significantly decreased. The price of coal and crude oil had already been increasing since the early 2000s, and was further exacerbated by the financial crisis. Around the same time, the cost of natural gas dropped significantly, making it a more viable economic alternative compared to other fossil fuels. This decrease was in part the result of drastically increased production of shale gas as a result of hydraulic fracturing and other techniques.

The cost of diesel fuel in the United States reached an annual average of 4.21 U.S. dollars per gallon in 2023. This was a decrease compared to the previous year, when diesel sold for an average of nearly five U.S. dollars per gallon. Increased economic activity and thus fuel demand combined with supply constraints following the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, which resulted in a notable rise in monthly diesel prices.

Crude oil prices and their impact on motor fuel prices

Motor fuel prices largely mirror major oil benchmarks, such as the OPEC reference basket, WTI, and Brent. As such, the oil glut in 2015 and 2016, which followed years of increased oil production output by the U.S., is largely responsible for the fall in diesel prices seen in those years. The same is true for the 2020 pandemic-induced oil crisis and fall in benchmarks that year.

Diesel and gasoline price development

The usage of diesel began in the 1930s, but until further development in the 1960s, diesel vehicles were mostly used commercially. In the U.S., diesel-powered cars remain a fairly small portion of the automobile market and diesel fuel consumption is far lower than gasoline consumption. In general, gasoline also tends to be more widely available than diesel fuel and usually sells for a lower retail price. However, diesel engines have better fuel economy than gasoline engines, and as such are often used for large commercial vehicles.

The average price of regular gasoline in Mexico reached 23.55 Mexican pesos per liter as of December 2024, up from more than 22 pesos per liter in the previous year. For premium gasoline, average prices increased from 24.3 pesos to 25.16 pesos per liter in the same period. What defines the price of gasoline in Mexico? The North American country is highly dependent on gasoline imports in order to meet its demand. Since 2016, gasoline imports by Pemex – Mexico’s national oil corporation – have averaged at more than 400 thousand barrels per day in a regular year. With the government’s control put to an end in late 2017, prices are since controlled by the market, and in turn strongly affected by global oil prices. Nevertheless, other factors come into play, such as import tariffs, or transport and logistics costs. In fact, prices also vary across Mexico. In 2023, Guerrero was the state with the highest average gasoline price, while Tamaulipas reported the lowest figure. How does Mexico compare with the rest of Latin America? At an average of 1.4 U.S. dollars per liter, Mexico had one of the highest prices in the region as of June 2023. This figure was above the average gasoline price reported in Latin America at the time. The country's gasoline purchasing power decreased in recent years. In 2023, the average Mexican salary could afford approximately 499 liters of gasoline.

In 2023, the industrial natural gas price in the United States was 4.59 U.S. dollars per thousand cubic feet. This was a decrease compared to the previous year. In 2008, the U.S. price of natural gas for industry peaked at 9.65 U.S. dollars per thousand cubic feet as a result of the Great Recession. Despite the increase in natural gas prices for the industry sector in recent years, natural gas prices for other sectors were much higher.

Hong Kong had the highest prices for premium gasoline (95-RON) on February 10, 2025. That day, prices averaged 3.39 U.S. dollars per liter, which was notably more than in any other country. While oil-rich countries enjoy some of the lowest gasoline prices, drivers in big car markets such as Europe pay around two U.S. dollars per liter.

In 2023, the price of natural gas in Europe reached 13.1 constant U.S. dollars per million British thermal units, compared with 2.5 U.S. dollars in the U.S. This was a notable decrease compared to the previous year, which had seen a steep increase in prices due to an energy supply shortage exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war. Since 1980, natural gas prices have typically been higher in Europe than in the United States and are expected to remain so for the coming two years. This is due to the U.S. being a significantly larger natural gas producer than Europe.

What is natural gas and why is it gaining ground in the energy market? Natural gas is commonly burned in power plants with combustion turbines that generate electricity or used as a heating fuel. Given the fact that the world’s energy demand continues to grow, natural gas was seen by some industry leaders as an acceptable "bridge-fuel" to overcome the use of more emission-intensive energy sources such as coal. Subsequently, natural gas has become the main fuel for electricity generation in the U.S., while the global gas power generation share has reached 22 percent.

How domestic production shapes U.S. natural gas prices The combination of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and horizontal drilling can be regarded as one of the oil and gas industry’s biggest breakthroughs in decades, with the U.S. being the largest beneficiary. This technology has helped the industry release unprecedented quantities of gas from deposits, mainly shale and tar sands that were previously thought either inaccessible or uneconomic. It is forecast that U.S. shale gas production could reach 35 trillion cubic feet in 2050, up from 1.77 trillion cubic feet in 2000.

The retail price for E85 fuel in the United States stood at 3.56 U.S. dollars per gasoline gallon equivalent on October 1, 2024. E85 fuel tends to sell for around 0.20 to 0.30 U.S. dollars more than regular gasoline, although the discrepancy was greater in 2022. The lowest fuel prices were recorded in April 2020 - at the height of the pandemic-induced oil crisis, when the E85 fuel price was 2.28 U.S. dollars per gasoline gallon equivalent. E85 fuel is an 85 percent ethanol fuel blended with gasoline. Biofuel share in transportation duel demand to increase The consumption of fuel ethanol in the United States has seen notable growth, reaching approximately 14.2 billion gallons in 2023. This increase aligns with the expanding role of biofuels in the transportation sector, which accounted for about seven percent of fuel demand in 2023. Projections suggest this share will rise to eight percent by 2030, even as overall fuel demand is expected to decrease. Economic impact of the ethanol industry Beyond its role in fuel markets, the ethanol industry has become a significant contributor to the U.S. economy. In 2023, it generated around 72,500 direct jobs and 322,000 indirect or induced jobs. The industry's economic footprint extended to a 54.2 billion U.S. dollar contribution to the country's GDP and 32.5 billion U.S. dollars in household income. This economic impact, coupled with the ongoing trade in biofuels - including exports of over 5.9 million barrels of biodiesel in 2023 - demonstrates the multifaceted significance of the biofuel sector in the United States.

The average retail price for regular, unleaded gasoline at self-service stations in Canada was 157.7 Canadian cents per liter in February 2025. This was an increase compared to the previous month. Canada's gasoline prices are generally higher than those in the United States, but lower than in many European countries. Why do gasoline prices fluctuate? Crude oil prices, along with changing levels of consumer demand, are the two main factors which directly affect retail prices of motor fuels. Prices can witness a rapid increase or decrease depending on impacts on crude oil supplies, refinery operations, or pipeline deliveries. Even if crude prices remain steady, seasonal changes in demand can still affect retail prices. As a large oil producer, Canada's motor fuel prices are closely linked to its benchmark Western Canadian Select crude oil price. Canada's fuel station industry Motor fuel is primarily sold via nearly 12,000 retail gasoline stations spread across the country. In 2022, retail sales of gasoline stations in Canada reached a new peak of 82.78 billion Canadian dollars.

This statistic shows the change in the price of gasoline per liter in selected countries for the period between June 2019 and June 2020. The price changes concern unleaded premium (95 RON) for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and regular unleaded for Canada, Japan, and the United States (AKI 87). RON stands for Research Octane Number, while AKI means Anti-Knock Index. Both represent the most common octane rating in the countries shown. In June 2020, the gasoline price per liter in the U.S. was 23.4 percent lower than it was in June 2019.

Influences on gasoline prices

The price of gasoline is a frequently discussed issue, and is a part of almost everybody’s life in developed countries. Gasoline prices worldwide are dependent of a number of factors: crude oil prices, costs for processing and distribution, demand, strength of currencies, taxation, and availability. The most influential factor is the crude oil price. This price includes the costs for exploration, extraction, and transport. What the consumer pays in the end is also an issue of national oil pricing policy. Typical regions with high taxes on gasoline are European countries and Japan. Other countries keep consumer prices low by subsidizing the costs for gasoline. Among latter countries are the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, Egypt, Malaysia, Bolivia, and others. There are many other factors, however, which directly influence the price of gasoline. Wars, crises, and natural disasters in oil producing regions, for example, can obstruct the production and transportation, and thus cause higher crude oil prices. Last but not least, the end-consumer defines the price through his or her demand. A higher number of people driving cars means higher prices for gasoline, which is often the case in the summer months or holiday seasons.