Gas in California averaged $1.83 in 2003 — $3.20 in today’s money
Average, that year
$1.83
In 2025 dollars
$3.20
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2003, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U).
Across the year
How California prices moved through 2003
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $2.15 the week of March 17, 2003; the low was $1.58 the week of January 6, 2003 — a swing of 36.0%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 6, 2003 | $1.58 | $2.78 |
| January 13, 2003 | $1.59 | $2.81 |
| January 20, 2003 | $1.63 | $2.88 |
| January 27, 2003 | $1.65 | $2.91 |
| February 3, 2003 | $1.68 | $2.95 |
| February 10, 2003 | $1.75 | $3.07 |
| February 17, 2003 | $1.86 | $3.27 |
| February 24, 2003 | $1.92 | $3.37 |
| March 3, 2003 | $2.01 | $3.52 |
| March 10, 2003 | $2.08 | $3.65 |
| March 17, 2003 | $2.15 | $3.76 |
| March 24, 2003 | $2.14 | $3.75 |
| March 31, 2003 | $2.13 | $3.73 |
| April 7, 2003 | $2.12 | $3.72 |
| April 14, 2003 | $2.08 | $3.65 |
| April 21, 2003 | $2.01 | $3.53 |
| April 28, 2003 | $1.98 | $3.47 |
| May 5, 2003 | $1.93 | $3.39 |
| May 12, 2003 | $1.87 | $3.29 |
| May 19, 2003 | $1.81 | $3.18 |
| May 26, 2003 | $1.76 | $3.10 |
| June 2, 2003 | $1.73 | $3.05 |
| June 9, 2003 | $1.70 | $2.98 |
| June 16, 2003 | $1.79 | $3.14 |
| June 23, 2003 | $1.80 | $3.17 |
| June 30, 2003 | $1.80 | $3.17 |
| July 7, 2003 | $1.78 | $3.13 |
| July 14, 2003 | $1.76 | $3.08 |
| July 21, 2003 | $1.73 | $3.02 |
| July 28, 2003 | $1.71 | $2.99 |
| August 4, 2003 | $1.70 | $2.97 |
| August 11, 2003 | $1.74 | $3.04 |
| August 18, 2003 | $1.92 | $3.35 |
| August 25, 2003 | $2.10 | $3.67 |
| September 1, 2003 | $2.10 | $3.65 |
| September 8, 2003 | $2.08 | $3.63 |
| September 15, 2003 | $2.03 | $3.54 |
| September 22, 2003 | $1.98 | $3.44 |
| September 29, 2003 | $1.91 | $3.33 |
| October 6, 2003 | $1.85 | $3.23 |
| October 13, 2003 | $1.80 | $3.14 |
| October 20, 2003 | $1.77 | $3.08 |
| October 27, 2003 | $1.74 | $3.02 |
| November 3, 2003 | $1.71 | $2.98 |
| November 10, 2003 | $1.69 | $2.93 |
| November 17, 2003 | $1.68 | $2.93 |
| November 24, 2003 | $1.69 | $2.94 |
| December 1, 2003 | $1.68 | $2.92 |
| December 8, 2003 | $1.65 | $2.87 |
| December 15, 2003 | $1.62 | $2.82 |
| December 22, 2003 | $1.61 | $2.80 |
| December 29, 2003 | $1.59 | $2.77 |
Year over year
How 2003 compares, adjusted for inflation
2003 was California’s 24th-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 4th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2003
Year-average price per grade, including diesel. Premium figures are the spread drivers paid for higher-octane fuel that year.
| Grade | Avg / gal | 2025 $ | vs. regular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $1.83 | $3.20 | — |
| Midgrade | $1.94 | $3.39 | +10.9¢ |
| Premium | $2.04 | $3.57 | +20.9¢ |
| Diesel | $1.66 | $2.90 | +-17.4¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2003, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2003?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2003 was $1.83 per gallon — about $3.20 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data.
- How high did gas prices get in California during 2003?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $2.15 the week of March 17, 2003 and bottomed out at $1.58 the week of January 6, 2003 — a swing of 36.0% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2003 than in 2002?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2003 than in 2002, up 18.3% year over year.
- How does 2003 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2003 was the 24th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).