In 2001, gas averaged $1.43 nationally — $2.59 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2001
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2001, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2001 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 42nd-most-expensive year on record — the 15th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 25th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2001
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $1.71 the week of May 14, 2001; the low was $1.06 the week of December 17, 2001 — a swing of 61.8%.
2001 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2001, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2001?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2001 was $1.43 per gallon — about $2.59 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2001 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2001 was the 42nd-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 25th.
- Were gas prices higher in 2001 than in 2000?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was cheaper in 2001 than in 2000, down 6.6% year over year ($2.78 → $2.59 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2001?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $1.71 the week of May 14, 2001 and bottomed at $1.06 the week of December 17, 2001 during 2001.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2001 is the average of EIA’s twelve monthly U.S. regular (all-formulations) retail prices; the weekly figures above are EIA’s weekly U.S. retail series. Inflation adjustment uses the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), constant 2025 dollars.