Gas in California averaged $3.82 in 2011 — $5.46 in today’s money
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2011, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U).
How California prices moved through 2011
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $4.26 the week of May 2, 2011; the low was $3.31 the week of January 3, 2011 — a swing of 28.7%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 3, 2011 | $3.31 | $4.82 |
| January 10, 2011 | $3.33 | $4.85 |
| January 17, 2011 | $3.35 | $4.87 |
| January 24, 2011 | $3.36 | $4.89 |
| January 31, 2011 | $3.36 | $4.90 |
| February 7, 2011 | $3.40 | $4.93 |
| February 14, 2011 | $3.45 | $5.00 |
| February 21, 2011 | $3.56 | $5.16 |
| February 28, 2011 | $3.72 | $5.40 |
| March 7, 2011 | $3.87 | $5.59 |
| March 14, 2011 | $3.95 | $5.71 |
| March 21, 2011 | $3.97 | $5.72 |
| March 28, 2011 | $4.03 | $5.81 |
| April 4, 2011 | $4.06 | $5.83 |
| April 11, 2011 | $4.16 | $5.98 |
| April 18, 2011 | $4.21 | $6.04 |
| April 25, 2011 | $4.22 | $6.06 |
| May 2, 2011 | $4.26 | $6.10 |
| May 9, 2011 | $4.25 | $6.09 |
| May 16, 2011 | $4.22 | $6.04 |
| May 23, 2011 | $4.12 | $5.90 |
| May 30, 2011 | $4.06 | $5.81 |
| June 6, 2011 | $3.99 | $5.72 |
| June 13, 2011 | $3.94 | $5.64 |
| June 20, 2011 | $3.90 | $5.59 |
| June 27, 2011 | $3.84 | $5.50 |
| July 4, 2011 | $3.79 | $5.42 |
| July 11, 2011 | $3.78 | $5.40 |
| July 18, 2011 | $3.80 | $5.43 |
| July 25, 2011 | $3.82 | $5.45 |
| August 1, 2011 | $3.81 | $5.43 |
| August 8, 2011 | $3.80 | $5.41 |
| August 15, 2011 | $3.73 | $5.32 |
| August 22, 2011 | $3.73 | $5.32 |
| August 29, 2011 | $3.81 | $5.42 |
| September 5, 2011 | $3.94 | $5.60 |
| September 12, 2011 | $3.94 | $5.60 |
| September 19, 2011 | $3.92 | $5.57 |
| September 26, 2011 | $3.89 | $5.52 |
| October 3, 2011 | $3.83 | $5.45 |
| October 10, 2011 | $3.81 | $5.42 |
| October 17, 2011 | $3.86 | $5.49 |
| October 24, 2011 | $3.86 | $5.48 |
| October 31, 2011 | $3.85 | $5.46 |
| November 7, 2011 | $3.85 | $5.46 |
| November 14, 2011 | $3.84 | $5.44 |
| November 21, 2011 | $3.79 | $5.37 |
| November 28, 2011 | $3.72 | $5.27 |
| December 5, 2011 | $3.65 | $5.18 |
| December 12, 2011 | $3.61 | $5.12 |
| December 19, 2011 | $3.56 | $5.04 |
| December 26, 2011 | $3.58 | $5.07 |
2011: California and the national picture
2011 coincided with the Arab Spring and Libyan civil war. In California, the weekly average for regular gasoline ran from a low of $3.31 (January 3, 2011) to a high of $4.26 (May 2, 2011). Adjusted for inflation, the year’s average of $5.46 ranks 3rd-highest in the state’s weekly record.
How 2011 compares, adjusted for inflation
2011 was California’s 3rd-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 25th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
California fuel prices by grade in 2011
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 | $3.82 | $5.46 | — |
| Midgrade | $3.92 | $5.62 | +10.7¢ |
| Premium | $4.03 | $5.76 | +20.9¢ |
| Diesel | $4.08 | $5.85 | +26.8¢ |
California gas prices in 2011, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2011?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2011 was $3.82 per gallon — about $5.46 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 2011?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $4.26 the week of May 2, 2011 and bottomed out at $3.31 the week of January 3, 2011 — a swing of 28.7% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2011 than in 2010?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2011 than in 2010, up 19.7% year over year.
- How does 2011 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2011 was the 3rd-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).