Gasoline prices averaged $3.543 per gallon in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area in March 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that area gasoline prices were down 63.2 cents compared to March 2022, when they averaged $4.175 per gallon. In March, the average cost of utility (piped) gas was $1.207 per therm, up from its average price of $1.173 per therm a year earlier. (Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)

The $3.543 per gallon Detroit households paid for gasoline in March 2023 was less than the nationwide average of $3.660. Over the past five years in March, gasoline prices in the Detroit area have ranged from $2.117 to $4.175 per gallon. (See chart 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Average prices for gasoline, the United States and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, 2019–23 (as of March)

Period	United States	Detroit
Mar 2019	$2.620	$2.576
Mar 2020	$2.334	$2.117
Mar 2021	$2.856	$2.726
Mar 2022	$4.401	$4.175
Mar 2023	$3.660	$3.543
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Prices paid by Detroit area households for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were $1.207 per therm in March 2023, 19.2 percent less than the national average of $1.493 per therm. In the previous four years (2019-2022), in March, Detroit area utility (piped) gas costs were lower than the national average, ranging from 16.5 percent to 19.5 percent less. (See chart 2.)

  

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Chart 2. Average prices for utility (piped) gas, the United States and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, 2019–23 (as of March)

Period	United States	Detroit
Mar 2019	$1.048	$0.844
Mar 2020	$1.034	$0.835
Mar 2021	$1.144	$0.955
Mar 2022	$1.411	$1.173
Mar 2023	$1.493	$1.207
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Core Based Statistical Area consists of Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

Historical average energy prices for the U.S. and select metropolitan areas are available at www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/averageenergyprices_selectedareas_table.htm.

The Consumer Price Index for May 2023 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

Average prices are estimated from Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for selected commodity series to support the research and analytic needs of CPI data users. Average prices for electricity, utility (piped) gas, and gasoline are published monthly for the U.S. city average, the 4 regions, 9 divisions, 2 population size classes, 8 region/size-class cross-classifications, and the 23 largest local index areas. For electricity, average prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) are published. For utility (piped) gas, average prices per therm are published. For gasoline, the average price per gallon is published. Average prices for commonly available grades of gasoline are published as well as the average price across all grades.

All eligible prices are converted to a price per normalized quantity. These prices are then used to estimate a price for a defined fixed quantity. The average price per kilowatt-hour represents the total bill divided by the kilowatt-hour usage. The total bill is the sum of all items applicable to all consumers appearing on an electricity bill including, but not limited to, variable rates per kWh, fixed costs, taxes, surcharges, and credits. This calculation also applies to the average price per therm for utility (piped) gas.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.