In 1970, gas averaged $0.34 nationally — $2.84 in today’s money
regular, at the pump in 1970
inflation-adjusted (CPI-U)
The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline across 1970, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars. For years before 2000 this comes from EIA’s State Energy Data System (all-grades motor gasoline) and is approximate; from 2000 on it is the average of EIA’s monthly regular-grade retail prices.
How 1970 ranks in the 1970–1999 record
The 13th-most-expensive year on record — the 18th-cheapest of 30 years.
The 30th-highest pump price on record — before adjusting for inflation.
1970 is an annual-average year
EIA’s weekly and monthly U.S. retail gasoline series begin in 2000, so for 1970 only an annual figure is available — there is no intra-year weekly high and low to chart. The value above is EIA’s State Energy Data System estimate (all-grades motor gasoline) and is approximate.
1970 vs. the years on either side
No year on record on this side.
adjusted for inflation · −1.7% at the pump
1971 averaged $0.35 ($2.77 in 2025 $)
U.S. gas prices in 1970, answered
- What was the average price of gas in 1970?
- The U.S. average price of regular gasoline in 1970 was $0.34 per gallon — about $2.84 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
- How does 1970 rank for gas prices in U.S. history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 1970 was the 13th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline out of the 30 years on record (1970–1999). In raw at-the-pump dollars it ranks 30th.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. 1970 is from EIA’s State Energy Data System (all-grades motor gasoline), the only EIA series reaching before 2000, and is approximate — it runs roughly 4% below the post-2000 retail series. Inflation adjustment uses the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), constant 2025 dollars.