In 2016, gas averaged $2.15 nationally — $2.88 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 2016
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 2016, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars.
How 2016 ranks in the 1970–2025 record
The 33rd-most-expensive year on record — the 24th-cheapest of 56 years.
The 21st-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
How U.S. prices moved through 2016
Weekly U.S. average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $2.40 the week of June 13, 2016; the low was $1.72 the week of February 15, 2016 — a swing of 39.2%.
2016 vs. the years on either side
U.S. gas prices in 2016, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 2016?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 2016 was $2.15 per gallon — about $2.88 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 2016 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2016 was the 33rd-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 56 years on record (1970–2025). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 21st.
- Were gas prices higher in 2016 than in 2015?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline was cheaper in 2016 than in 2015, down 12.5% year over year ($3.29 → $2.88 in 2025 dollars).
- How high did gas prices get during 2016?
- The U.S. weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $2.40 the week of June 13, 2016 and bottomed at $1.72 the week of February 15, 2016 during 2016.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2016 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.