In 2004, gas averaged $1.85 nationally — $3.15 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2004
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2004, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2004 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 30th-most-expensive year on record — the 27th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 22nd-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2004
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $2.06 the week of May 24, 2004; the low was $1.51 the week of January 5, 2004 — a swing of 36.7%.
2004 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2004, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2004?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2004 was $1.85 per gallon — about $3.15 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2004 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2004 was the 30th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 22nd.
- Were gas prices higher in 2004 than in 2003?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 2004 than in 2003, up 15.5% year over year ($2.73 → $3.15 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2004?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $2.06 the week of May 24, 2004 and bottomed at $1.51 the week of January 5, 2004 during 2004.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2004 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.