Gas in California averaged $2.12 in 2004 — $3.61 in today’s money
Average, that year
$2.12
In 2025 dollars
$3.61
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2004, 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 2004
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $2.40 the week of October 18, 2004; the low was $1.62 the week of January 5, 2004 — a swing of 48.5%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2004 | $1.62 | $2.79 |
| January 12, 2004 | $1.67 | $2.88 |
| January 19, 2004 | $1.69 | $2.92 |
| January 26, 2004 | $1.73 | $2.98 |
| February 2, 2004 | $1.75 | $3.02 |
| February 9, 2004 | $1.82 | $3.14 |
| February 16, 2004 | $1.87 | $3.22 |
| February 23, 2004 | $2.03 | $3.50 |
| March 1, 2004 | $2.11 | $3.63 |
| March 8, 2004 | $2.11 | $3.63 |
| March 15, 2004 | $2.10 | $3.61 |
| March 22, 2004 | $2.08 | $3.58 |
| March 29, 2004 | $2.08 | $3.58 |
| April 5, 2004 | $2.13 | $3.65 |
| April 12, 2004 | $2.16 | $3.71 |
| April 19, 2004 | $2.15 | $3.69 |
| April 26, 2004 | $2.12 | $3.65 |
| May 3, 2004 | $2.12 | $3.62 |
| May 10, 2004 | $2.22 | $3.80 |
| May 17, 2004 | $2.27 | $3.88 |
| May 24, 2004 | $2.32 | $3.98 |
| May 31, 2004 | $2.33 | $3.98 |
| June 7, 2004 | $2.32 | $3.95 |
| June 14, 2004 | $2.29 | $3.90 |
| June 21, 2004 | $2.26 | $3.85 |
| June 28, 2004 | $2.24 | $3.81 |
| July 5, 2004 | $2.20 | $3.75 |
| July 12, 2004 | $2.19 | $3.73 |
| July 19, 2004 | $2.19 | $3.72 |
| July 26, 2004 | $2.16 | $3.68 |
| August 2, 2004 | $2.13 | $3.62 |
| August 9, 2004 | $2.09 | $3.56 |
| August 16, 2004 | $2.06 | $3.50 |
| August 23, 2004 | $2.05 | $3.49 |
| August 30, 2004 | $2.10 | $3.57 |
| September 6, 2004 | $2.07 | $3.52 |
| September 13, 2004 | $2.05 | $3.48 |
| September 20, 2004 | $2.06 | $3.49 |
| September 27, 2004 | $2.09 | $3.55 |
| October 4, 2004 | $2.20 | $3.71 |
| October 11, 2004 | $2.33 | $3.93 |
| October 18, 2004 | $2.40 | $4.05 |
| October 25, 2004 | $2.39 | $4.04 |
| November 1, 2004 | $2.37 | $3.98 |
| November 8, 2004 | $2.34 | $3.93 |
| November 15, 2004 | $2.31 | $3.88 |
| November 22, 2004 | $2.26 | $3.80 |
| November 29, 2004 | $2.24 | $3.76 |
| December 6, 2004 | $2.19 | $3.68 |
| December 13, 2004 | $2.13 | $3.59 |
| December 20, 2004 | $2.05 | $3.44 |
| December 27, 2004 | $2.01 | $3.38 |
Year over year
How 2004 compares, adjusted for inflation
2004 was California’s 23rd-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 5th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2004
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 | $2.12 | $3.61 | — |
| Midgrade | $2.23 | $3.79 | +10.7¢ |
| Premium | $2.33 | $3.96 | +20.7¢ |
| Diesel | $2.10 | $3.58 | +-2.1¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2004, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2004?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2004 was $2.12 per gallon — about $3.61 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 2004?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $2.40 the week of October 18, 2004 and bottomed out at $1.62 the week of January 5, 2004 — a swing of 48.5% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2004 than in 2003?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2004 than in 2003, up 12.8% year over year.
- How does 2004 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2004 was the 23rd-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).