And now, for some facts:

These are results for how much has gasoline gone up vs. overall CPI since the GFC?
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AI Overview
Since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC, roughly 2008–2009), overall consumer prices have risen significantly, while retail gasoline prices have experienced wild boom-and-bust cycles but overall gained a much smaller net percentage.
The Numbers
Overall CPI Inflation: Since 2009, the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) has increased by roughly 45% to 50%, reflecting steady cumulative inflation across housing, food, medical care, and services.
Gasoline Prices: In 2009, the U.S. annual average retail price for regular unleaded gasoline hovered around $2.35 to $2.40 per gallon (down sharply from the 2008 mid-year oil spike). As of mid-2026, average gas prices sit around $3.90 to $4.30 per gallon (driven up by recent geopolitical energy shocks). This represents a nominal increase of roughly 65% to 75% from the 2009 trough.

WalletHub
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Key Takeaways
Volatility vs. Stability: Overall CPI climbs relatively smoothly year-over-year. Gasoline prices face extreme short-term swings driven by crude oil supply, refinery disruptions, and global conflicts.

Department of Energy (.gov)
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Real Decline in Long-Term Terms: Because gas prices spiked heavily before the GFC (hitting historic nominal highs in mid-2008), measuring from the 2008 peak actually shows that gasoline has underperformed overall inflation over the full multi-decade span. Measured from the 2009 post-crash low, gas has outpaced overall CPI slightly in nominal terms, but on an inflation-adjusted basis, historical pump prices remain well below past generational records.

Department of Energy (.gov)
Maps and Data - Average Annual Retail Fuel Price of Gasoline
Feb 15, 2026 — Notes: Retail price includes federal and state taxes. Price is for regular leaded gasoline until 1975 and for regular unleaded gas...

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