Gas price check
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Prices back up, but some historical perspective might be appropriate:
Q: Considering the price of gasoline today, how does it compare to that price in 1960, inflation adjusted?
A: In 1960, the average U.S. retail price of gasoline was about $0.29–$0.31 per gallon.
Today (late April 2026), the national average for regular unleaded gasoline is roughly $4.00–$4.23 per gallon, with recent reports around $3.95–$4.23 depending on the exact date and source (e.g., AAA averages)....
Today's price ($4.00+) is higher than the inflation-adjusted 1960 price by roughly $0.50–$0.75 per gallon (about 15–20% more in real terms).
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Q: Okay, considering the improvement in fuel economy in automobiles, what is the relative, inflation-adjusted cost of driving 100 miles?
A: Driving 100 miles costs ~25–30% less in real (inflation-adjusted) terms today than in 1960, primarily due to ~50–80% better average fuel economy (depending on exact 1960 baseline). Even at today's higher real gas prices, efficiency improvements dominate.
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