- The average American household spent $2,645 on gasoline in 2024, about $220 per month or $7.25 per day.
- Gasoline accounts for 3.4% of total household expenditures and nearly 20% of all transportation spending.
- Fuel spending peaked at $2,805 in 2022 during the post pandemic price surge and was more than double the $1,291 households spent in 2000.
- Across 135.8 million U.S. households, total national gasoline spending reached $327 billion in 2024.
01 Introduction
Gasoline is one of the largest recurring expenses in the average American household, yet it is often overlooked in personal budgeting because it is paid in small, frequent increments. For the full breakdown of what driving costs in America, see our overview. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey tracks exactly what households spend across every category, providing a precise picture of fuel costs.
BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX), published annually. Covers approximately 135.8 million consumer units (households) in 2024.This article examines 25 years of household fuel spending data from the BLS, showing how gasoline costs have fluctuated with oil prices, recessions, and shifting driving habits. All figures represent the average across all U.S. consumer units, including households that do not own vehicles (which pulls the average down from what a typical driver actually pays).
BLS CEX methodology: a "consumer unit" includes families, single persons, and other sharing units. 89% of consumer units owned at least one vehicle in 2024.02 Household Fuel Spending: 2000 to 2024
Annual household gasoline spending has more than doubled since 2000, rising from $1,291 to $2,645 in 2024. The path was volatile: spending surged to $2,715 in 2008 during the oil price spike, collapsed to $1,568 during the 2020 pandemic, then shot back up to an all time high of $2,805 in 2022 as gasoline prices hit record levels.
BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2000 to 2024: gasoline and motor oil / gasoline and other fuels category| Year | Gas Spending | % of Budget | % of Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $1,291 | 3.4% | 2.9% |
| 2004 | $1,598 | 3.7% | 2.9% |
| 2008 | $2,715 | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| 2012 | $2,756 | 5.4% | 4.2% |
| 2016 | $1,909 | 3.3% | 2.6% |
| 2020 | $1,568 | 2.6% | 1.9% |
| 2022 | $2,805 | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | $2,645 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator03 Fuel as a Share of the Household Budget
Gasoline as a share of total household spending has ranged from a low of 2.6% in 2020 (cheap gas plus pandemic driving reductions) to a high of 5.4% in 2008 and 2012 (oil price spikes). In 2024, gasoline accounted for 3.4% of the average household budget, matching its long run average.
BLS CEX 2000 to 2024. Total average annual expenditures grew from $38,045 (2000) to $78,535 (2024).As a share of pre tax income, gasoline peaked at 4.3% in 2008, meaning the average household spent more than one dollar out of every 25 on fuel alone. By 2024, that share had fallen to 2.5%, partly because incomes have grown faster than fuel costs over the past decade.
BLS CEX 2024: average pre tax income $104,207; gasoline spending $2,645 = 2.5% of incomeFor lower income households, the burden is significantly higher. Households in the lowest income quintile typically spend 8% to 10% of their income on gasoline, compared to under 2% for the highest quintile, making fuel prices a regressive cost that disproportionately affects those who can least afford it.
BLS CEX income quintile tables (published separately). Lower income quintile fuel burden documented in DOE/EIA analyses of CEX data.04 The Full Transportation Budget
Transportation is the second largest spending category for American households after housing, consuming $13,318 or 17.0% of total expenditures in 2024. Gasoline represents roughly one fifth of that transportation budget at $2,645.
BLS CEX 2024: total transportation expenditures $13,318 = 17.0% of $78,535 total expenditures| Category | Annual Cost | % of Transport | % of Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Purchases (net) | $5,337 | 40.1% | 6.8% |
| Gasoline and Other Fuels | $2,645 | 19.9% | 3.4% |
| Vehicle Insurance | $1,993 | 15.0% | 2.5% |
| Public and Other Transit | $1,131 | 8.5% | 1.4% |
| Maintenance and Repairs | $984 | 7.4% | 1.3% |
| Rental, Leases, Licenses | $811 | 6.1% | 1.0% |
| Vehicle Finance Charges | $418 | 3.1% | 0.5% |
| Total Transportation | $13,318 | 100% | 17.0% |
05 Gas Prices Drive Spending
Household gasoline spending is overwhelmingly driven by the price of fuel rather than by changes in driving behavior. When gasoline prices rise, spending rises almost proportionally. When prices fall, spending drops. The chart below indexes both metrics to 2000 levels, showing their near perfect correlation over 25 years.
BLS CEX gasoline spending 2000 to 2024; EIA Annual Average Regular Gasoline Prices 2000 to 2024This tight correlation has an important implication: vehicle fuel economy and miles driven matter, but price volatility is the factor most households cannot control. This is why fuel cost calculators that use your actual MPG and local gas price provide the most accurate personal estimate.
EPA Automotive Trends Report 2024: fleet MPG improved 33% since 2004, partially offsetting price increasesEstimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator06 Data Sources
Every data point in this article comes from a U.S. government source. No proprietary, estimated, or third party data was used.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX), 2000 to 2024. Annual average expenditures for all consumer units. Series: gasoline and motor oil / gasoline and other fuels, total transportation, total expenditures, pre tax income.
- BLS CEX 2024 Detailed Tables. Transportation budget breakdown: vehicle purchases, gasoline, insurance, public transit, maintenance, rental/leases/licenses, finance charges.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Annual average retail gasoline prices (regular grade), 2000 to 2025. Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices survey.
- BLS CEX Series CXU470111LB0101M. Gasoline spending detail: aggregate national totals, share of expenditures, percentage of consumer units reporting.