I would like to obtain a graphical chart showing the price of crude
oil and the average price of gasoline for every quarter from 1960 to
present. The price for each need not be corrected to present
equivalent dollars, it only need be the same for crude and gasoline in
each quarter. I.E. the price shown for the first quarter of 1960 would
be in 1960 dollars, while the price for the first quarter of 2000
would be in 2000 dollars. The horizontal scale would be the time line,
with quarterly increments, and there would be two vertical scales, one
from 0 to $3 for gasoline, the other from 0 to $50 for crude oil.
My curiosity is due to the statement that adjusted for inflation,
gasoline is cheaper now than ever before, or such. This seems to
contradict my impression that in the late 60's gas was $.25/gallon
while crude oil was something like $8/barrel, and now crude oil is
$26/barrel while gasoline is $1.50/gallon. Crude oil increases 3x
while gasoline increases 6x. Show me the numbers.

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Request for Question Clarification by robertskelton-ga on 17 May 2003 01:48 PDT

Would annual figures (instead of quarterly) be acceptable?

Hi skutcho,

This first URL, from the Department of Energy Energy Information
Administration web site, displays the annual average price of gasoline
in both nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) terms.  As you can see,
unleaded gasoline prices in 1998 and 1999 were the lowest in real
terms recorded during the period 1940-2001.  However, this abruptly
changed in 2000 with the rising gasoline prices, and probably
continues to remain that way since inflation has been low by
historical standards while gasoline prices have continued to rise
until recently.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb0522.html

To address your desire for oil and gasoline pricing data, I have
included links to spreadsheets of gasoline pricing data and oil
pricing data from January 1973 forward in monthly increments.  This is
as far back as I could find less than annual data.  You can use these
two spreadsheets to construct the chart you are seeking.  I would
construct it for you, but I cannot send you an attachment.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/mets/table9_4.xls(gasoline prices)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/mets/table9_1.xls (oil prices)

For notes on the formatting of the data in the spreadsheets, please
read the following link:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/mets_note.html

Links to a variety of petroleum pricing data can be found here on the
Historic Petroleum Price Data page of the Energy Information
Administration:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/historic/hpetroleum2.htm#Gasoline

I hope this satisfies your inquiry.

Wonko

Not exactly all I asked for, but enough to work with. More than good
enough, for my cheap price.

The 25 cents per gallon you mention for 1960 may be gas war prices. I
suspect 35 cents was typical. Also we paid $1.35 at Sam's club 2 days
ago. Part of the gas price increase is higher taxes on the gas and the
refinery profits. Government mandates reguarding employees and
polutants has also pushed the gasoline from 4 times 60s crude to 5.3
times 03 crude.   Neil

I bought gasoline in the late 60's in New Mexico for 25 cents per
gallon. Admittedly,  that was in a small town, while in Albuquerque it
was 32 cents per gallon. I presently live in Seattle, where gasoline
prices are higher than average. I realize that there are more taxes on
gasoline now than then, and that environmental restrictions add costs,
but I would imagine that refinement is also more efficient now than
then. I would find it hard to believe that oil companies have not made
advances in that respect, since it is the simplest way to boost
profits, more gasoline per barrel of crude. I am also aware of the
claim that unleaded gas costs more to produce, since the elimination
of tetraethyl lead means that other more expensive additives must be
added to maintain octane levels. But octane levels have declined, so
that argument is suspect.
My question remains, a simple comparison of crude oil prices to
gasoline prices, how hard is that?