Gas in California averaged $5.31 in 2022 — $5.84 in today’s money
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2022, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U).
How California prices moved through 2022
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $6.27 the week of June 13, 2022; the low was $4.16 the week of December 26, 2022 — a swing of 50.9%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 3, 2022 | $4.50 | $5.13 |
| January 10, 2022 | $4.50 | $5.13 |
| January 17, 2022 | $4.50 | $5.12 |
| January 24, 2022 | $4.49 | $5.11 |
| January 31, 2022 | $4.49 | $5.11 |
| February 7, 2022 | $4.51 | $5.10 |
| February 14, 2022 | $4.52 | $5.12 |
| February 21, 2022 | $4.57 | $5.17 |
| February 28, 2022 | $4.67 | $5.29 |
| March 7, 2022 | $5.19 | $5.81 |
| March 14, 2022 | $5.59 | $6.25 |
| March 21, 2022 | $5.71 | $6.39 |
| March 28, 2022 | $5.76 | $6.45 |
| April 4, 2022 | $5.71 | $6.38 |
| April 11, 2022 | $5.62 | $6.27 |
| April 18, 2022 | $5.54 | $6.19 |
| April 25, 2022 | $5.51 | $6.15 |
| May 2, 2022 | $5.53 | $6.11 |
| May 9, 2022 | $5.65 | $6.25 |
| May 16, 2022 | $5.79 | $6.40 |
| May 23, 2022 | $5.90 | $6.53 |
| May 30, 2022 | $5.99 | $6.62 |
| June 6, 2022 | $6.18 | $6.74 |
| June 13, 2022 | $6.27 | $6.85 |
| June 20, 2022 | $6.22 | $6.79 |
| June 27, 2022 | $6.14 | $6.70 |
| July 4, 2022 | $6.04 | $6.60 |
| July 11, 2022 | $5.90 | $6.44 |
| July 18, 2022 | $5.71 | $6.23 |
| July 25, 2022 | $5.57 | $6.08 |
| August 1, 2022 | $5.47 | $5.97 |
| August 8, 2022 | $5.30 | $5.78 |
| August 15, 2022 | $5.22 | $5.69 |
| August 22, 2022 | $5.15 | $5.61 |
| August 29, 2022 | $5.06 | $5.52 |
| September 5, 2022 | $5.05 | $5.49 |
| September 12, 2022 | $5.18 | $5.63 |
| September 19, 2022 | $5.24 | $5.69 |
| September 26, 2022 | $5.62 | $6.10 |
| October 3, 2022 | $6.21 | $6.71 |
| October 10, 2022 | $6.16 | $6.65 |
| October 17, 2022 | $5.85 | $6.32 |
| October 24, 2022 | $5.50 | $5.94 |
| October 31, 2022 | $5.31 | $5.74 |
| November 7, 2022 | $5.23 | $5.63 |
| November 14, 2022 | $5.21 | $5.61 |
| November 21, 2022 | $5.03 | $5.42 |
| November 28, 2022 | $4.81 | $5.19 |
| December 5, 2022 | $4.56 | $4.92 |
| December 12, 2022 | $4.35 | $4.69 |
| December 19, 2022 | $4.20 | $4.52 |
| December 26, 2022 | $4.16 | $4.48 |
2022: California and the national picture
2022 coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the post-pandemic surge. In California, the weekly average for regular gasoline ran from a low of $4.16 (December 26, 2022) to a high of $6.27 (June 13, 2022). Adjusted for inflation, the year’s average of $5.84 ranks 1st-highest in the state’s weekly record.
How 2022 compares, adjusted for inflation
2022 was California’s 1st-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 27th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
California fuel prices by grade in 2022
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 | $5.31 | $5.84 | — |
| Midgrade | $5.59 | $6.15 | +27.7¢ |
| Premium | $5.69 | $6.26 | +37.6¢ |
| Diesel | $6.03 | $6.63 | +71.8¢ |
California gas prices in 2022, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2022?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2022 was $5.31 per gallon — about $5.84 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 2022?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $6.27 the week of June 13, 2022 and bottomed out at $4.16 the week of December 26, 2022 — a swing of 50.9% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2022 than in 2021?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2022 than in 2021, up 22.8% year over year.
- How does 2022 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2022 was the 1st-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).