Gas in California averaged $1.51 in 2002 — $2.71 in today’s money
Average, that year
$1.51
In 2025 dollars
$2.71
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2002, 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 2002
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $1.62 the week of April 8, 2002; the low was $1.13 the week of January 7, 2002 — a swing of 43.7%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2002 | $1.13 | $2.05 |
| January 14, 2002 | $1.18 | $2.14 |
| January 21, 2002 | $1.21 | $2.19 |
| January 28, 2002 | $1.22 | $2.22 |
| February 4, 2002 | $1.25 | $2.26 |
| February 11, 2002 | $1.25 | $2.27 |
| February 18, 2002 | $1.29 | $2.33 |
| February 25, 2002 | $1.30 | $2.36 |
| March 4, 2002 | $1.33 | $2.40 |
| March 11, 2002 | $1.45 | $2.62 |
| March 18, 2002 | $1.50 | $2.70 |
| March 25, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.82 |
| April 1, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.86 |
| April 8, 2002 | $1.62 | $2.91 |
| April 15, 2002 | $1.62 | $2.90 |
| April 22, 2002 | $1.61 | $2.90 |
| April 29, 2002 | $1.61 | $2.89 |
| May 6, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.85 |
| May 13, 2002 | $1.57 | $2.82 |
| May 20, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.79 |
| May 27, 2002 | $1.55 | $2.79 |
| June 3, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.80 |
| June 10, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.80 |
| June 17, 2002 | $1.60 | $2.87 |
| June 24, 2002 | $1.62 | $2.90 |
| July 1, 2002 | $1.62 | $2.89 |
| July 8, 2002 | $1.61 | $2.89 |
| July 15, 2002 | $1.60 | $2.87 |
| July 22, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.85 |
| July 29, 2002 | $1.58 | $2.82 |
| August 5, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.84 |
| August 12, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.83 |
| August 19, 2002 | $1.58 | $2.82 |
| August 26, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.84 |
| September 2, 2002 | $1.60 | $2.85 |
| September 9, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.83 |
| September 16, 2002 | $1.58 | $2.81 |
| September 23, 2002 | $1.57 | $2.79 |
| September 30, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.78 |
| October 7, 2002 | $1.55 | $2.75 |
| October 14, 2002 | $1.53 | $2.73 |
| October 21, 2002 | $1.52 | $2.71 |
| October 28, 2002 | $1.52 | $2.70 |
| November 4, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.77 |
| November 11, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.82 |
| November 18, 2002 | $1.59 | $2.82 |
| November 25, 2002 | $1.57 | $2.79 |
| December 2, 2002 | $1.56 | $2.77 |
| December 9, 2002 | $1.54 | $2.73 |
| December 16, 2002 | $1.52 | $2.70 |
| December 23, 2002 | $1.52 | $2.69 |
| December 30, 2002 | $1.53 | $2.71 |
Year over year
How 2002 compares, adjusted for inflation
2002 was California’s 27th-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 1st-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2002
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 | $1.51 | $2.71 | — |
| Midgrade | $1.62 | $2.90 | +10.8¢ |
| Premium | $1.72 | $3.08 | +21.0¢ |
| Diesel | $1.45 | $2.59 | +-6.4¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2002, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2002?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2002 was $1.51 per gallon — about $2.71 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 2002?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $1.62 the week of April 8, 2002 and bottomed out at $1.13 the week of January 7, 2002 — a swing of 43.7% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2002 than in 2001?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was cheaper in 2002 than in 2001, down 8.7% year over year.
- How does 2002 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2002 was the 27th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).