In 2003, gas averaged $1.56 nationally — $2.73 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2003
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2003, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2003 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 37th-most-expensive year on record — the 20th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 23rd-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2003
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $1.75 the week of August 25, 2003; the low was $1.44 the week of January 6, 2003 — a swing of 21.0%.
2003 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2003, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2003?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2003 was $1.56 per gallon — about $2.73 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2003 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2003 was the 37th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 23rd.
- Were gas prices higher in 2003 than in 2002?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 2003 than in 2002, up 13.7% year over year ($2.40 → $2.73 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2003?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $1.75 the week of August 25, 2003 and bottomed at $1.44 the week of January 6, 2003 during 2003.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2003 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.