In 2009, gas averaged $2.34 nationally — $3.52 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2009
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2009, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2009 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 18th-most-expensive year on record — the 39th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 18th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2009
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $2.69 the week of November 2, 2009; the low was $1.68 the week of January 5, 2009 — a swing of 60.0%.
2009 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2009, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2009?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2009 was $2.34 per gallon — about $3.52 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2009 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2009 was the 18th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 18th.
- Were gas prices higher in 2009 than in 2008?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was cheaper in 2009 than in 2008, down 27.7% year over year ($4.86 → $3.52 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2009?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $2.69 the week of November 2, 2009 and bottomed at $1.68 the week of January 5, 2009 during 2009.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2009 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.