In 1979, gas averaged $0.86 nationally — $3.79 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 1979
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 1979, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars. For years before 2000 this comes from EIA’s State Energy Data System (all-grades motor gasoline) and is approximate; from 2000 on it is the average of EIA’s monthly regular-grade retail prices.
How 1979 ranks in the 1970–1999 record
The 4th-most-expensive year on record — the 27th-cheapest of 30 years.
The 20th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
1979 is an annual-average year
EIA’s weekly and monthly U.S. retail gasoline series begin in 2000, so for 1979 only an annual figure is available — there is no intra-year weekly high and low to chart. The value above is EIA’s State Energy Data System estimate (all-grades motor gasoline) and is approximate.
1979 vs. the years on either side
1979 and the 1979 oil crisis and the Iranian Revolution
1979 coincided with the 1979 oil crisis and the Iranian Revolution. Adjusted for inflation, the year’s average of $3.79 ranks 4th-highest in the 1970–1999 record, against the all-time adjusted peak of $4.66 in 1981.
U.S. gas prices in 1979, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 1979?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 1979 was $0.86 per gallon — about $3.79 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 1979 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 1979 was the 4th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 30 years on record (1970–1999). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 20th.
- Were gas prices higher in 1979 than in 1978?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 1979 than in 1978, up 22.0% year over year ($3.11 → $3.79 in 2025 dollars).
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 1979 is from EIA’s State Energy Data System (all-grades motor gasoline), the only EIA series reaching before 2000, and is approximate — it runs roughly 4% below the post-2000 retail series. Inflation adjustment uses the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), constant 2025 dollars.