In 1989, gas averaged $0.96 nationally — $2.51 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 1989
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 1989, 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 1989 ranks in the 1970–1999 record
The 19th-most-expensive year on record — the 12th-cheapest of 30 years.
The 17th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
1989 is an annual-average year
EIA’s weekly and monthly U.S. retail gasoline series begin in 2000, so for 1989 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.
1989 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 1989, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 1989?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 1989 was $0.96 per gallon — about $2.51 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 1989 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 1989 was the 19th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 30 years on record (1970–1999). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 17th.
- Were gas prices higher in 1989 than in 1988?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 1989 than in 1988, up 4.4% year over year ($2.40 → $2.51 in 2025 dollars).
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 1989 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.