In 2006, gas averaged $2.57 nationally — $4.10 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2006
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2006, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2006 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 12th-most-expensive year on record — the 45th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 15th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2006
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $3.04 the week of August 7, 2006; the low was $2.20 the week of November 6, 2006 — a swing of 38.1%.
2006 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2006, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2006?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2006 was $2.57 per gallon — about $4.10 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2006 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2006 was the 12th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 15th.
- Were gas prices higher in 2006 than in 2005?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 2006 than in 2005, up 9.7% year over year ($3.74 → $4.10 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2006?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $3.04 the week of August 7, 2006 and bottomed at $2.20 the week of November 6, 2006 during 2006.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2006 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.