Gas Price to Pay Ratio
One gallon of regular gas as a share of median weekly earnings
Where the Gas Price to Pay Ratio stands now
The Gas Price to Pay Ratio was 0.33% in the third quarter of 2026, down from the 0.43% peak in the second quarter of 2022. It has been higher than a year earlier for two quarters in a row.
What it means for households: Gas Price History
How the Gas Price to Pay Ratio has moved since 1990
Gas Price to Pay Ratio: up since Q1 2026
Average weekly regular gasoline price divided by median full-time weekly earnings, both in current dollars, times 100, quarterly: 0.33% in the third quarter of 2026, up from 0.26% a year earlier. Quarterly, 1990–2026.
What the Gas Price to Pay Ratio measures
Measurement basis: Quarterly average U.S. retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline (EIA, GASREGW) divided by median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in current dollars (BLS, LES1252881500Q), times 100: one gallon as a share of a week's median pay. Both legs are in current dollars.
A higher rate is worse for households.
Gas Price to Pay Ratio by quarter, 1990 to 2026
Every quarter since 1990, newest first. The change compares each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
The source changed how it measures this in Q2 2018. EIA replaced its retail gasoline price sample, frame, estimation method and city definitions on May 14, 2018 and says estimates on either side are not directly comparable. Figures on either side are not directly comparable, so the change column stays blank where a comparison would cross that date. Source documentation.
| Quarter | Rate (%) | Change from a year earlier (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 0.33 | +0.07 |
| Q2 2026 | 0.33 | +0.07 |
| Q1 2026 | 0.26 | 0.00 |
| Q3 2025 | 0.26 | −0.03 |
| Q2 2025 | 0.26 | −0.05 |
| Q1 2025 | 0.26 | −0.02 |
| Q4 2024 | 0.26 | −0.04 |
| Q3 2024 | 0.29 | −0.04 |
| Q2 2024 | 0.31 | −0.01 |
| Q1 2024 | 0.28 | −0.03 |
| Q4 2023 | 0.30 | −0.03 |
| Q3 2023 | 0.33 | −0.05 |
| Q2 2023 | 0.32 | −0.11 |
| Q1 2023 | 0.31 | −0.04 |
| Q4 2022 | 0.33 | 0.00 |
| Q3 2022 | 0.38 | +0.06 |
| Q2 2022 | 0.43 | +0.13 |
| Q1 2022 | 0.35 | +0.09 |
| Q4 2021 | 0.33 | +0.11 |
| Q3 2021 | 0.32 | +0.10 |
| Q2 2021 | 0.30 | +0.11 |
| Q1 2021 | 0.26 | +0.01 |
| Q4 2020 | 0.22 | −0.06 |
| Q3 2020 | 0.22 | −0.07 |
| Q2 2020 | 0.19 | −0.12 |
| Q1 2020 | 0.25 | −0.01 |
| Q4 2019 | 0.28 | −0.01 |
| Q3 2019 | 0.29 | −0.03 |
| Q2 2019 | 0.31 | — |
| Q1 2019 | 0.26 | — |
| Q4 2018 | 0.29 | — |
| Q3 2018 | 0.32 | — |
| Q2 2018 | 0.32 | +0.04 |
| Q1 2018 | 0.29 | +0.02 |
| Q4 2017 | 0.29 | +0.03 |
| Q3 2017 | 0.28 | +0.02 |
| Q2 2017 | 0.28 | +0.01 |
| Q1 2017 | 0.27 | +0.04 |
| Q4 2016 | 0.26 | 0.00 |
| Q3 2016 | 0.26 | −0.06 |
| Q2 2016 | 0.27 | −0.06 |
| Q1 2016 | 0.23 | −0.05 |
| Q4 2015 | 0.26 | −0.10 |
| Q3 2015 | 0.32 | −0.12 |
| Q2 2015 | 0.33 | −0.14 |
| Q1 2015 | 0.28 | −0.15 |
| Q4 2014 | 0.36 | −0.06 |
| Q3 2014 | 0.44 | −0.02 |
| Q2 2014 | 0.47 | +0.01 |
| Q1 2014 | 0.43 | −0.03 |
| Q4 2013 | 0.42 | −0.03 |
| Q3 2013 | 0.46 | −0.02 |
| Q2 2013 | 0.46 | −0.02 |
| Q1 2013 | 0.46 | −0.01 |
| Q4 2012 | 0.45 | +0.01 |
| Q3 2012 | 0.48 | 0.00 |
| Q2 2012 | 0.48 | −0.02 |
| Q1 2012 | 0.47 | +0.03 |
| Q4 2011 | 0.44 | +0.06 |
| Q3 2011 | 0.48 | +0.12 |
| Q2 2011 | 0.50 | +0.12 |
| Q1 2011 | 0.44 | +0.08 |
| Q4 2010 | 0.38 | +0.03 |
| Q3 2010 | 0.36 | +0.01 |
| Q2 2010 | 0.38 | +0.06 |
| Q1 2010 | 0.36 | +0.10 |
| Q4 2009 | 0.35 | +0.04 |
| Q3 2009 | 0.35 | −0.18 |
| Q2 2009 | 0.32 | −0.20 |
| Q1 2009 | 0.26 | −0.18 |
| Q4 2008 | 0.31 | −0.11 |
| Q3 2008 | 0.53 | +0.12 |
| Q2 2008 | 0.52 | +0.09 |
| Q1 2008 | 0.44 | +0.10 |
| Q4 2007 | 0.42 | +0.09 |
| Q3 2007 | 0.41 | −0.01 |
| Q2 2007 | 0.43 | 0.00 |
| Q1 2007 | 0.34 | −0.01 |
| Q4 2006 | 0.33 | −0.04 |
| Q3 2006 | 0.42 | +0.03 |
| Q2 2006 | 0.43 | +0.09 |
| Q1 2006 | 0.35 | +0.05 |
| Q4 2005 | 0.37 | +0.07 |
| Q3 2005 | 0.39 | +0.09 |
| Q2 2005 | 0.34 | +0.04 |
| Q1 2005 | 0.30 | +0.04 |
| Q4 2004 | 0.30 | +0.06 |
| Q3 2004 | 0.30 | +0.04 |
| Q2 2004 | 0.30 | +0.05 |
| Q1 2004 | 0.26 | 0.00 |
| Q4 2003 | 0.24 | +0.01 |
| Q3 2003 | 0.26 | +0.03 |
| Q2 2003 | 0.25 | +0.02 |
| Q1 2003 | 0.26 | +0.07 |
| Q4 2002 | 0.23 | +0.03 |
| Q3 2002 | 0.23 | −0.01 |
| Q2 2002 | 0.23 | −0.04 |
| Q1 2002 | 0.19 | −0.06 |
| Q4 2001 | 0.20 | −0.06 |
| Q3 2001 | 0.24 | −0.02 |
| Q2 2001 | 0.27 | 0.00 |
| Q1 2001 | 0.25 | +0.01 |
| Q4 2000 | 0.26 | +0.04 |
| Q3 2000 | 0.26 | +0.04 |
| Q2 2000 | 0.27 | +0.06 |
| Q1 2000 | 0.24 | +0.06 |
| Q4 1999 | 0.22 | +0.04 |
| Q3 1999 | 0.22 | +0.02 |
| Q2 1999 | 0.21 | +0.01 |
| Q1 1999 | 0.18 | −0.02 |
| Q4 1998 | 0.18 | −0.05 |
| Q3 1998 | 0.20 | −0.04 |
| Q2 1998 | 0.20 | −0.04 |
| Q1 1998 | 0.20 | −0.05 |
| Q4 1997 | 0.23 | −0.02 |
| Q3 1997 | 0.24 | −0.01 |
| Q2 1997 | 0.24 | −0.02 |
| Q1 1997 | 0.25 | +0.02 |
| Q4 1996 | 0.25 | +0.03 |
| Q3 1996 | 0.25 | +0.02 |
| Q2 1996 | 0.26 | +0.02 |
| Q1 1996 | 0.23 | 0.00 |
| Q4 1995 | 0.22 | −0.02 |
| Q3 1995 | 0.23 | −0.01 |
| Q2 1995 | 0.24 | +0.01 |
| Q1 1995 | 0.23 | +0.01 |
| Q4 1994 | 0.24 | +0.01 |
| Q3 1994 | 0.24 | +0.01 |
| Q2 1994 | 0.23 | −0.01 |
| Q1 1994 | 0.22 | −0.01 |
| Q4 1993 | 0.23 | −0.02 |
| Q3 1993 | 0.23 | −0.02 |
| Q2 1993 | 0.24 | −0.01 |
| Q1 1993 | 0.23 | 0.00 |
| Q4 1992 | 0.25 | 0.00 |
| Q3 1992 | 0.25 | −0.01 |
| Q2 1992 | 0.25 | −0.01 |
| Q1 1992 | 0.23 | −0.03 |
| Q4 1991 | 0.25 | −0.07 |
| Q3 1991 | 0.26 | −0.04 |
| Q2 1991 | 0.26 | — |
| Q1 1991 | 0.26 | — |
| Q4 1990 | 0.32 | — |
| Q3 1990 | 0.30 | — |
Quarterly · Computed (U.S. Energy Information Administration/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data retrieved via FRED: GASREGW / LES1252881500Q)
Counties with the highest debt burden scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the debt burden part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bronx County, NY | 99.6 |
| 2 | Miami-Dade County, FL | 99.4 |
| 3 | Rockland County, NY | 99.4 |
| 4 | Clayton County, GA | 99.1 |
| 5 | Broward County, FL | 99 |
| 6 | Palm Beach County, FL | 98.8 |
| 7 | Santa Barbara County, CA | 98.4 |
| 8 | St. Lucie County, FL | 98.4 |
| 9 | Osceola County, FL | 98.3 |
| 10 | Orleans Parish, LA | 98 |
Questions about the Gas Price to Pay Ratio
What does the gas price to pay ratio measure?
It compares the quarterly average price of a gallon of regular gas with the median weekly pay of full-time wage and salary workers, both in today's dollars. In the third quarter of 2026 one gallon cost 0.33% of a week's median pay. It is the price of one gallon, not a measure of how much anyone spends on gas.
Why doesn't this adjust for inflation?
It doesn't need to. The gas price and the pay figure are both in today's dollars, so general inflation that raises both by the same amount leaves the share unchanged. The share moves when gas prices and pay move at different speeds.
Why compare with a year earlier instead of the last quarter?
Gas prices are not seasonally adjusted and follow a yearly pattern. The ratio rose from the first to the second quarter in 31 of the 35 years from 1991 to 2025, so a spring increase says little on its own.
Where does this data come from?
American Default computes it from two public series on FRED: EIA's weekly U.S. regular gasoline price and BLS median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in current dollars. A new quarter can be computed when BLS publishes its quarterly earnings release, about three weeks after the quarter ends.
Sources and method for the Gas Price to Pay Ratio
- Computed (U.S. Energy Information Administration/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data retrieved via FRED: GASREGW / LES1252881500Q) Measurement basis: Quarterly average U.S. retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline (EIA, GASREGW) divided by median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in current dollars (BLS, LES1252881500Q), times 100: one gallon as a share of a week's median pay. Both legs are in current dollars. We use the quarterly figures as published, from the third quarter of 1990 through the third quarter of 2026, with no adjustment of our own. U.S. Energy Information Administration doesn’t adjust this rate for the season, so compare a quarter with the same quarter a year earlier. U.S. Energy Information Administration’s report (1) U.S. Energy Information Administration’s report (2)
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.