Gasoline cost of driving has fallen
Regarding the story “$1 a gallon is next barrier for gasoline, some predict” (Dec. 9):
Gas is cheap.
Gas prices in 1955 were about 25 cents a gallon. After adjusting for inflation, the price would be about $2 in today’s dollars. Cars got about 17 miles per gallon then, which amounts to an average gasoline cost of driving of 12 cents a mile.
Gasoline prices today are about $1.75 a gallon. Today’s autos average about 26 mpg, so the average gasoline cost per mile is close to 7 cents. The bottom line is that, adjusted for inflation and car mileage, today’s gasoline cost of driving is almost half of what it was in 1955.
Daryal Gant
La Crescenta
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