Gas in California averaged $4.03 in 2012 — $5.66 in today’s money
Average, that year
$4.03
In 2025 dollars
$5.66
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2012, 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 2012
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $4.66 the week of October 8, 2012; the low was $3.51 the week of December 24, 2012 — a swing of 32.9%.
View the weekly data (53 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 2, 2012 | $3.63 | $5.14 |
| January 9, 2012 | $3.71 | $5.24 |
| January 16, 2012 | $3.70 | $5.23 |
| January 23, 2012 | $3.71 | $5.25 |
| January 30, 2012 | $3.74 | $5.29 |
| February 6, 2012 | $3.76 | $5.30 |
| February 13, 2012 | $3.83 | $5.41 |
| February 20, 2012 | $4.04 | $5.69 |
| February 27, 2012 | $4.29 | $6.05 |
| March 5, 2012 | $4.36 | $6.13 |
| March 12, 2012 | $4.38 | $6.16 |
| March 19, 2012 | $4.38 | $6.16 |
| March 26, 2012 | $4.36 | $6.13 |
| April 2, 2012 | $4.32 | $6.07 |
| April 9, 2012 | $4.28 | $6.01 |
| April 16, 2012 | $4.24 | $5.95 |
| April 23, 2012 | $4.20 | $5.90 |
| April 30, 2012 | $4.19 | $5.88 |
| May 7, 2012 | $4.21 | $5.93 |
| May 14, 2012 | $4.37 | $6.15 |
| May 21, 2012 | $4.34 | $6.10 |
| May 28, 2012 | $4.31 | $6.07 |
| June 4, 2012 | $4.26 | $6.00 |
| June 11, 2012 | $4.16 | $5.87 |
| June 18, 2012 | $4.03 | $5.68 |
| June 25, 2012 | $3.89 | $5.48 |
| July 2, 2012 | $3.77 | $5.31 |
| July 9, 2012 | $3.73 | $5.26 |
| July 16, 2012 | $3.75 | $5.29 |
| July 23, 2012 | $3.81 | $5.36 |
| July 30, 2012 | $3.80 | $5.36 |
| August 6, 2012 | $3.87 | $5.42 |
| August 13, 2012 | $4.10 | $5.74 |
| August 20, 2012 | $4.13 | $5.78 |
| August 27, 2012 | $4.16 | $5.82 |
| September 3, 2012 | $4.18 | $5.82 |
| September 10, 2012 | $4.18 | $5.82 |
| September 17, 2012 | $4.16 | $5.79 |
| September 24, 2012 | $4.15 | $5.79 |
| October 1, 2012 | $4.18 | $5.80 |
| October 8, 2012 | $4.66 | $6.48 |
| October 15, 2012 | $4.62 | $6.43 |
| October 22, 2012 | $4.43 | $6.16 |
| October 29, 2012 | $4.17 | $5.79 |
| November 5, 2012 | $4.00 | $5.56 |
| November 12, 2012 | $3.86 | $5.37 |
| November 19, 2012 | $3.78 | $5.27 |
| November 26, 2012 | $3.75 | $5.22 |
| December 3, 2012 | $3.70 | $5.15 |
| December 10, 2012 | $3.62 | $5.04 |
| December 17, 2012 | $3.52 | $4.91 |
| December 24, 2012 | $3.51 | $4.88 |
| December 31, 2012 | $3.55 | $4.95 |
Year over year
How 2012 compares, adjusted for inflation
2012 was California’s 2nd-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 26th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2012
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 | $4.03 | $5.66 | — |
| Midgrade | $4.14 | $5.81 | +10.7¢ |
| Premium | $4.24 | $5.95 | +21.0¢ |
| Diesel | $4.23 | $5.93 | +19.6¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2012, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2012?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2012 was $4.03 per gallon — about $5.66 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 2012?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $4.66 the week of October 8, 2012 and bottomed out at $3.51 the week of December 24, 2012 — a swing of 32.9% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2012 than in 2011?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2012 than in 2011, up 3.6% year over year.
- How does 2012 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2012 was the 2nd-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).