The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
For Release: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
20-1932-CHI
MIDWEST INFORMATION OFFICE: Chicago, Ill.
Technical information:
(312) 353-1880 BLSInfoChicago@bls.gov www.bls.gov/regions/midwest
Media contact:
(312) 353-1138
Average Energy Prices, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn — September 2020
Gasoline prices averaged $2.067 per gallon in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area in September 2020, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that area gasoline
prices were 65.7 cents lower than a year ago in September when they averaged $2.724 per gallon. Detroit area
households paid an average of 18.0 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in September 2020, 4.0
percent higher than the 17.3 cents paid in September 2019. In September 2020, the average cost of utility
(piped) gas was 89.0 cents per therm, comparable to the average price of 86.0 cents per therm a year earlier.
(Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)
At $2.067 per gallon in September 2020, costs for gasoline in the Detroit area were 19.3 cents lower than the
national average of $2.260 per gallon. In September 2016, Detroit area gasoline prices were 13.1 cents higher
than the national average, but in the previous three years (2017-2019), local area gasoline prices were
comparable to the national average. (See chart 1.)
2
The 18.0 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) that Detroit area households paid for electricity in September 2020
was 31.4 percent more than the nationwide average cost of 13.7 cents per kWh. In the previous four years
(2016-2019) in September, Detroit area electricity costs exceeded the national average, ranging from 13.0
percent to 24.5 percent more. (See chart 2.)
Prices paid by Detroit area consumers for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were 89.0
cents per therm in September 2020, 16.4 percent below the national average of $1.064 per therm. In the
previous four years (2016-2019) in September, Detro