Gas in California averaged $1.63 in 2001 — $2.97 in today’s money
Average, that year
$1.63
In 2025 dollars
$2.97
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2001, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U).
Across the year
How California prices moved through 2001
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $1.95 the week of May 14, 2001; the low was $1.10 the week of December 31, 2001 — a swing of 77.6%.
View the weekly data (53 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2001 | $1.63 | $2.99 |
| January 8, 2001 | $1.63 | $2.98 |
| January 15, 2001 | $1.60 | $2.93 |
| January 22, 2001 | $1.58 | $2.90 |
| January 29, 2001 | $1.57 | $2.87 |
| February 5, 2001 | $1.59 | $2.91 |
| February 12, 2001 | $1.64 | $2.99 |
| February 19, 2001 | $1.66 | $3.04 |
| February 26, 2001 | $1.66 | $3.04 |
| March 5, 2001 | $1.69 | $3.10 |
| March 12, 2001 | $1.70 | $3.11 |
| March 19, 2001 | $1.70 | $3.10 |
| March 26, 2001 | $1.68 | $3.08 |
| April 2, 2001 | $1.72 | $3.13 |
| April 9, 2001 | $1.75 | $3.20 |
| April 16, 2001 | $1.80 | $3.28 |
| April 23, 2001 | $1.83 | $3.34 |
| April 30, 2001 | $1.87 | $3.41 |
| May 7, 2001 | $1.94 | $3.52 |
| May 14, 2001 | $1.95 | $3.55 |
| May 21, 2001 | $1.95 | $3.54 |
| May 28, 2001 | $1.95 | $3.54 |
| June 4, 2001 | $1.93 | $3.50 |
| June 11, 2001 | $1.95 | $3.53 |
| June 18, 2001 | $1.93 | $3.50 |
| June 25, 2001 | $1.90 | $3.44 |
| July 2, 2001 | $1.86 | $3.37 |
| July 9, 2001 | $1.82 | $3.31 |
| July 16, 2001 | $1.78 | $3.22 |
| July 23, 2001 | $1.72 | $3.13 |
| July 30, 2001 | $1.67 | $3.03 |
| August 6, 2001 | $1.62 | $2.93 |
| August 13, 2001 | $1.56 | $2.83 |
| August 20, 2001 | $1.52 | $2.76 |
| August 27, 2001 | $1.53 | $2.79 |
| September 3, 2001 | $1.64 | $2.97 |
| September 10, 2001 | $1.68 | $3.03 |
| September 17, 2001 | $1.67 | $3.02 |
| September 24, 2001 | $1.66 | $3.00 |
| October 1, 2001 | $1.62 | $2.94 |
| October 8, 2001 | $1.58 | $2.87 |
| October 15, 2001 | $1.55 | $2.81 |
| October 22, 2001 | $1.50 | $2.73 |
| October 29, 2001 | $1.47 | $2.66 |
| November 5, 2001 | $1.42 | $2.58 |
| November 12, 2001 | $1.38 | $2.50 |
| November 19, 2001 | $1.33 | $2.42 |
| November 26, 2001 | $1.29 | $2.35 |
| December 3, 2001 | $1.24 | $2.26 |
| December 10, 2001 | $1.20 | $2.17 |
| December 17, 2001 | $1.14 | $2.07 |
| December 24, 2001 | $1.11 | $2.01 |
| December 31, 2001 | $1.10 | $2.00 |
Year over year
How 2001 compares, adjusted for inflation
2001 was California’s 26th-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 2nd-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2001
Year-average price per grade, including diesel. Premium figures are the spread drivers paid for higher-octane fuel that year.
| Grade | Avg / gal | 2025 $ | vs. regular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $1.63 | $2.97 | — |
| Midgrade | $1.74 | $3.16 | +10.5¢ |
| Premium | $1.84 | $3.34 | +20.4¢ |
| Diesel | $1.54 | $2.81 | +-8.8¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2001, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2001?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2001 was $1.63 per gallon — about $2.97 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data.
- How high did gas prices get in California during 2001?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $1.95 the week of May 14, 2001 and bottomed out at $1.10 the week of December 31, 2001 — a swing of 77.6% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2001 than in 2000?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was cheaper in 2001 than in 2000, down 7.3% year over year.
- How does 2001 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2001 was the 26th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).