Gas in California averaged $2.81 in 2006 — $4.49 in today’s money
Average, that year
$2.81
In 2025 dollars
$4.49
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2006, 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 2006
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $3.33 the week of May 8, 2006; the low was $2.21 the week of January 2, 2006 — a swing of 50.6%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 2, 2006 | $2.21 | $3.58 |
| January 9, 2006 | $2.33 | $3.76 |
| January 16, 2006 | $2.42 | $3.90 |
| January 23, 2006 | $2.42 | $3.92 |
| January 30, 2006 | $2.51 | $4.06 |
| February 6, 2006 | $2.54 | $4.11 |
| February 13, 2006 | $2.52 | $4.07 |
| February 20, 2006 | $2.47 | $3.99 |
| February 27, 2006 | $2.44 | $3.94 |
| March 6, 2006 | $2.48 | $4.00 |
| March 13, 2006 | $2.53 | $4.08 |
| March 20, 2006 | $2.63 | $4.25 |
| March 27, 2006 | $2.67 | $4.30 |
| April 3, 2006 | $2.74 | $4.40 |
| April 10, 2006 | $2.81 | $4.51 |
| April 17, 2006 | $2.90 | $4.65 |
| April 24, 2006 | $3.07 | $4.92 |
| May 1, 2006 | $3.20 | $5.12 |
| May 8, 2006 | $3.33 | $5.33 |
| May 15, 2006 | $3.33 | $5.33 |
| May 22, 2006 | $3.32 | $5.31 |
| May 29, 2006 | $3.27 | $5.22 |
| June 5, 2006 | $3.27 | $5.22 |
| June 12, 2006 | $3.23 | $5.15 |
| June 19, 2006 | $3.20 | $5.10 |
| June 26, 2006 | $3.16 | $5.05 |
| July 3, 2006 | $3.19 | $5.06 |
| July 10, 2006 | $3.22 | $5.12 |
| July 17, 2006 | $3.24 | $5.14 |
| July 24, 2006 | $3.22 | $5.11 |
| July 31, 2006 | $3.20 | $5.07 |
| August 7, 2006 | $3.19 | $5.04 |
| August 14, 2006 | $3.21 | $5.07 |
| August 21, 2006 | $3.16 | $5.00 |
| August 28, 2006 | $3.10 | $4.89 |
| September 4, 2006 | $3.01 | $4.78 |
| September 11, 2006 | $2.95 | $4.68 |
| September 18, 2006 | $2.85 | $4.52 |
| September 25, 2006 | $2.76 | $4.38 |
| October 2, 2006 | $2.68 | $4.28 |
| October 9, 2006 | $2.60 | $4.15 |
| October 16, 2006 | $2.54 | $4.05 |
| October 23, 2006 | $2.48 | $3.96 |
| October 30, 2006 | $2.43 | $3.88 |
| November 6, 2006 | $2.40 | $3.82 |
| November 13, 2006 | $2.46 | $3.93 |
| November 20, 2006 | $2.50 | $3.98 |
| November 27, 2006 | $2.49 | $3.97 |
| December 4, 2006 | $2.50 | $3.96 |
| December 11, 2006 | $2.50 | $3.97 |
| December 18, 2006 | $2.56 | $4.06 |
| December 25, 2006 | $2.61 | $4.13 |
Year over year
How 2006 compares, adjusted for inflation
2006 was California’s 14th-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 14th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2006
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 | $2.81 | $4.49 | — |
| Midgrade | $2.91 | $4.65 | +10.4¢ |
| Premium | $3.01 | $4.81 | +20.4¢ |
| Diesel | $2.92 | $4.67 | +11.3¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2006, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2006?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2006 was $2.81 per gallon — about $4.49 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 2006?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $3.33 the week of May 8, 2006 and bottomed out at $2.21 the week of January 2, 2006 — a swing of 50.6% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2006 than in 2005?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2006 than in 2005, up 10.1% year over year.
- How does 2006 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2006 was the 14th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).