Gasoline prices are changing: memories of the good times!

Gasoline prices are changing: memories of the good times!

In this day and age, when fuel prices are constantly coming into focus, it is exciting to take a look back at historical developments. An article from Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung brings back memories of the first weekend in June 1979, when regular gasoline was offered for 103.9 pfennigs per liter and premium gasoline for just 108.9 pfennigs at the Tramin gas station at the Hildesheimer Börde motorway service station. Back then, people filled up without giving much thought to the prices, but today many people have to have a good knack for finding the cheapest offers.

The current fuel prices in Germany, however, have developed completely differently. According to that ADAC In 2022, drivers had to pay an average of 186.0 cents per liter for Super E10 and 194.6 cents for diesel. This was the most expensive fuel year in recent memory, with prices 27 cents higher than in 2012. In 2024, prices were down slightly, but still remained high at 12 cents cheaper for Super E10 and almost 30 cents cheaper for diesel compared to the highs of 2022.

The price dynamics in review

The adjustments in fuel prices did not come about by chance. Various market forces, including the Ukraine war, have had a significant impact on prices. This is a development that is not new. As early as the 1990s, premium gasoline was pushed below 79 cents per liter. But tax measures such as the eco-tax and the VAT have always been the driving forces behind the price changes ADAC explained.

To illustrate this, you can also look at the average prices of the last few years. The pressure on drivers is increasing to rethink their fueling habits. More and more people are checking the prices at their usual gas station and are willing to drive to the competition to get a bargain. Filling up at motorway service stations is increasingly perceived as too expensive, and people usually accept the detour to a cheaper gas station.

A look at the statistics

In order to better understand further developments over the years Statista Comprehensive statistics on the development of gasoline prices in Germany were created. From 1972 to 2025, the data documents an exciting journey through price dynamics. These developments impressively show how sensitively the market reacts to external influences.

So it is not surprising that memories of the modest prices of 1979 seem nostalgic for many today. Many would like to have these low prices back and are wondering how long the current price situation will last.