ACTIVATE LA's video: How Much Did GAS Cost the Year You Were Born

We’ve all heard our parents talk about “the good old days.” Whether cheaper gas, simpler technology or nostalgia for their youth makes other generations reminisce about the past, data can lend credence to their claims. Was gas really that much cheaper when you were a kid? How much did coffee cost? Find out with FRED, the Federal Reserve Economic Database. Created in the early 1990s, FRED has gone from a dial-in bulletin board to a powerful digital tool that houses more than half a million data series. Data ranges from employment and literacy rates, to the global prices of shrimp and sunflower oil, all the way to county-level commute times. Who’s it for? FRED is used by everyone from consumers like you to professional economists for research, data presentation and even just for fun! Say you or your friend has a milestone birthday around the corner. Here’s how to find out … What Did Gas Cost 20 Years Ago? If you were born this month in 1999, gas cost around $1.12 a gallon. If you search for “gasoline price per gallon” on FRED, the first data series you’ll see is called US Regular All Formulations Gas Price. The graph below displays the weekly average price of all grades of gasoline since 1990 (not seasonally adjusted). Roll over to see individual values, which are found by taking the average of gas prices at about 900 self-service gas stations around the country, tax included. For example, you can see that when the series started, the average price of gas was $1.19 a gallon. It rose all the way to $4.11 in the summer of 2008, and it was sitting around $2.81 at the beginning of June 2019. What Was the Price of Coffee 30 Years Ago? If you were born this month in 1989, a pound of coffee cost $1.23 (commodity). Simply search “coffee” from the FRED homepage to be greeted with a wide array of data series about our favorite drink. The first, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Coffee, can give you information about how inflation has impacted the price of coffee since 1967. But if you’re looking for more concrete prices, skip to the second and third series. We’ll look at the second: Global Price of Coffee, Other Mild Arabica, which goes back to 1980. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, arabica accounts for the bulk of global coffee production, despite its lower caffeine content than robusta. Arabica is the variety you’re more likely to find at any coffee shop. 🔴 MAKE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE! 🔴 Help Keep The Channel Going You Can Show Support By Donating at: https://cash.app/$ItsRaybusiness DONATION TO REACH MY GOAL AND BUY A NEW CAMERA 😊 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ActivateLA Donation for a cup of coffee or two always welcomed at: VENMO: @TalentedMrPhunk And here to: https://streamlabs.com/Activatela/tip Please check it out and dont forget to subscribe to our youtube channel! Give us thumbs up 👍👍💯✔ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ActivateLAradio www.twitch.tv/ActivateLA