U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee

• The average regular grade gas price was $4.05 per gallon in June 2008, compared to $1.45 in January 2001
• The average American family spent $3,080 to fill up their cars in 2007, compared to nearly $1,600 in 2001
• Americans pay over 80 percent more in real terms for a gallon of gas than they did one decade ago – average price for a gallon of regular gas in 1997 was $1.55 in 2007 dollars; compared with the 2007 average of $2.80

Oil Prices Have Rocketed Up Since the Iraq War Began²

• The average crude oil price in June 2008 was $133.88; compared with $30.72 five years ago
• The price of crude oil has risen 241 percent (when adjusted for inflation) since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003
• The inflation-adjusted price of crude oil is now far above its previous all-time peak in April 1980, when the price hit $101.24 (2007 dollars)

High Costs for Diesel Fuel, Central to Commercial Transportation in America³

• The average diesel gas price was $4.68 per gallon in June 2008; compared to $1.52 in January 2001
• Adjusted for inflation, the price of diesel rose 151 percent between 2001 and 2007