By Evelyn Pyburn

Every day one hears people complain about the rising cost of gasoline and vilifying the oil industry, with charges of gouging consumers.

The comments often conjure up memories for me, of sitting in the car at the gas station in Manhattan, Montana, where a big sign typically stated that the price of gas was 25 cents. Since I hated the “down time” of buying gas– bearing in mind it was a lot longer than most folks would think since Dad enjoyed long chats with Mr. Stoner, the gas station owner  – I had lots of time to stare at all the signs Mr. Stoner posted.

I also remember clearly, the howling and lamenting that one heard when gasoline hit 30 cents a gallon. Just as loud as complaints today.

So I have wondered how much gasoline has really increased in price since then, when inflation is factored in. The reality is – not much.

So let’s go back to 1960 —  the price of gasoline was 31 cents per gallon. Web sites claim that is the equivalent to about $3.30 today. The average price of gasoline is currently about $3.16, according to AAA as of October 2, 2025. In some places in Billings it is $3.06, so in reality it is a something of a bargain.

Gasoline is even more of a bargain than the price would suggest. Over those past 65 years a lot of new technologies have been brought to the market to generate much greater value. For example back in 1960 a gallon of gasoline took you only about ten miles, today’s cars get some 24 miles per gallon (depending greatly on the vehicle).

Of course there is lots of data out there comparing that to hybrid vehicles, but most of those calculations do not reveal the true cost of the electricity to run a vehicle, which is generally the trick that the Green Group does all the time in attempting to prove their case. They seem to believe that if energy generation is subsidized, it’s free. But it’s not free to taxpayers and it is not economically viable in a competitive market without a subsidy, which means it is not a sound or sustainable solution. Maybe someday it could be, but it never will be as long as it is subsidized.

Of course there is nothing unique about inflation’s impact on gasoline – inflation is seen in most commodities.  In the 60s cheeseburgers were 27 cents and fries were 17 cents – and maybe less. I recall being able to buy lunch, including a Coke, at the downtown café for 30 cents.

A ribeye steak could be had for $1.59. And almost any candy bar – now marked up to sometimes $3 and $4 – could be had for 10 or 15 cents. There was even this thing called “penny candy.”

Deodorant was 69 cents; a new refrigerator was $300, the cost of college per year was between $500 – $1,140; and a house was $12,000.

So where did all the value of the difference in those prices go? For the most part the government collected on inflation.

If you want to complain about prices you should complain about inflation because that is where the average citizen gets ripped off.  Inflation is when the US government – totally unchallenged – increases the money supply – which quite literally means they print more paper dollars – garnering a huge windfall in being able to spend those new dollars before their lower value works through the system. This is why inflation is often referred to as a hidden tax. Most people do not understand what causes inflation because the politicians use the term interchangeably when they just mean that prices are higher. They have no intention in revealing its true nature.

Prices rise not because costs have increased but because the US government has deflated the value of your hard earned dollars, and quietly pocketed the difference.

If not so tragic it would be funny when a government official gives a definition of inflation as being increased prices, especially if it’s the head of the Federal Reserve.

To be honest, inflating the money supply is outright theft. So we do have a reason to complain, but our complaints should not be directed at businesses or industry, which have in large part been able to keep things affordable due to improved technology despite the constant increase in the money supply.