In 2002, gas averaged $1.34 nationally — $2.40 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2002
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2002, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2002 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 49th-most-expensive year on record — the 8th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 26th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2002
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $1.46 the week of October 21, 2002; the low was $1.10 the week of January 28, 2002 — a swing of 32.4%.
2002 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2002, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2002?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2002 was $1.34 per gallon — about $2.40 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2002 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2002 was the 49th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 26th.
- Were gas prices higher in 2002 than in 2001?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was cheaper in 2002 than in 2001, down 7.5% year over year ($2.59 → $2.40 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2002?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $1.46 the week of October 21, 2002 and bottomed at $1.10 the week of January 28, 2002 during 2002.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2002 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.