Frequently Asked Questions
What do I pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline?
The national average retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline in August 2012 was $3.72. The four main components of the retail price of a gallon of gasoline, and their approximate share of the total price in August are:
- Crude Oil: 64%. The cost of crude oil as a share of the retail price varies over time and among regions of the country. Refiners paid an average of about $100.00 per barrel of crude oil, or about $2.38 per gallon, in August 2012.
- Refining Costs and Profits: 18%
- Distribution, Marketing, and Retail Costs and Profits: 7%
- Taxes: 11%. Federal excise taxes were 18.4 cents per gallon and state excise taxes averaged 23.44 cents per gallon.
See the Gasoline and Diesel Fuels Update.
Factors Affecting Gasoline Prices explains what drives gasoline prices.
Last updated: September 25, 2012
Other FAQs about Gasoline
- Can I tell where the gasoline at my local station comes from?
- Does EIA have city or county-level energy consumption and price data?
- Does EIA have gasoline prices by city, county, or zip code?
- How can I find historical gasoline prices for each state?
- How many gallons of gasoline does one barrel of oil make?
- How much carbon dioxide is produced by burning gasoline and diesel fuel?
- How much ethanol is in gasoline and how does it affect fuel economy?
- How much gasoline does the United States consume?
- How much tax do we pay on a gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel?
- What do I pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline?
- What is the outlook for gasoline prices for 2012 and for 2013?
- What was the highest U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline?
- What's up (and down) with gasoline prices?
- Where can I find inflation-adjusted gasoline prices?
- Why don't fuel prices change as quickly as crude oil prices?
- Why is the United States exporting gasoline when prices are so high?