http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/#

The table shows that for the wage rate and price of gasoline in
other years, this cost has fallen. Since wages have increased faster than the
price of gasoline by 2003, today an unskilled worker spends less than half as
much, as a percent of wage, for a gallon of gasoline than the 1949 worker. The
table shows that the $1.59 a worker paid in 2005 would be comparable to only 17
cents (in 1949 prices) if measured as a "share" of the wage.

Thanks to Brad Gryder.