In 2012, gas averaged $3.63 nationally — $5.08 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2012
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2012, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2012 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 1st-most-expensive year on record — the 56th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 2nd-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2012
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $3.94 the week of April 2, 2012; the low was $3.25 the week of December 17, 2012 — a swing of 21.1%.
2012 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2012, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2012?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2012 was $3.63 per gallon — about $5.08 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2012 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2012 was the 1st-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 2nd.
- Were gas prices higher in 2012 than in 2011?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was more expensive in 2012 than in 2011, up 0.9% year over year ($5.04 → $5.08 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2012?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $3.94 the week of April 2, 2012 and bottomed at $3.25 the week of December 17, 2012 during 2012.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2012 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.