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How much does 9/10 cost?

Writer: Mike Vitkauskas
Mike Vitkauskas
Apr 1
1 min read

Updated: Apr 30

That tiny 9/10 of a cent on gas station signs might look like a rounding error, but it adds up to a staggering amount. Based on current U.S. gasoline consumption, that fraction of a penny costs Americans roughly $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion per year.

Here is a breakdown of how those "pieces of pennies" turn into a billion-dollar industry:


The Math Behind the Billions

To understand the scale, you have to look at the sheer volume of fuel the U.S. consumes.

  • Annual Consumption: As of 2024–2025, the U.S. consumes approximately 135 to 138 billion gallons of gasoline annually.


  • The Calculation:

    138,000,000,000 \ gallons \times \$0.009 \approx \$1,242,000,000.


  • Per Driver: For an individual who fills up a 15-gallon tank, it only adds about 13.5 cents to the bill. Because it's so small on a personal level, most people ignore it, yet it represents a massive collective transfer of wealth.


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