Oil Prices in the 1980s: WTI & Brent Decade Averages
Data in this decade covers 1986–1989.
Across the 1980s (EIA data for 1986–1989), WTI averaged $17.46 per barrel, the mean of 48 monthly averages.
By year, the highest WTI average was $19.64 in 1989 and the lowest $15.05 in 1986. The biggest annual increase came in 1987, up $4.15; the largest decline was $3.23 in 1988. Daily prices ranged from $10.25 (Mar 31, 1986) to $26.53 (Jan 6, 1986).
Annual average prices, 1980s
| Year | WTI avg | vs prior year | WTI high | WTI low | Brent avg | Brent − WTI | WTI (September 2026 $) | Brent (September 2026 $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $15.05 | — | $26.53 | $10.25 | — | — | $46.27 | — |
| 1987 | $19.20 | +27.6% | $22.44 | $15.12 | $18.53 (from May 20) | −$1.09 | $56.95 | $54.96 |
| 1988 | $15.97 | −16.8% | $18.54 | $12.58 | $14.91 | −$1.04 | $45.49 | $42.47 |
| 1989 | $19.64 | +23.0% | $24.62 | $16.99 | $18.23 | −$1.39 | $53.37 | $49.54 |
Brent averaged $17.08 over 32 months, beginning May 20, 1987 when EIA's Brent series starts, so it covers a shorter period than WTI. On 666 dates with both prices published, Brent was on average $1.19 below WTI.
In September 2026 dollars, using CPI-U month by month, the decade's WTI average is about $50.50 per barrel.
Compared with adjacent decades
| Decade | WTI average | WTI (September 2026 $) | Brent average | Highest WTI | Date | Lowest WTI | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | $17.46 | $50.50 | $17.08 | $26.53 | Jan 6, 1986 | $10.25 | Mar 31, 1986 |
| 1990s | $19.70 | $44.79 | $18.33 | $41.07 | Oct 11, 1990 | $10.82 | Dec 10, 1998 |
Decade averages are the mean of monthly averages (EIA's published monthly figures where available). Real values adjust each month with that month's CPI-U; months without published CPI-U are omitted from the real average.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB | $/bbl | Jan 2, 1986 – Dec 29, 1989 | Dec 29, 1989 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB | $/bbl | May 20, 1987 – Dec 29, 1989 | Dec 29, 1989 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly and annual average | September 2026 |
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 5:27 PM CDT. Raw values are shown in source units; any conversion is labeled. See methodology and data sources.
Download:Annual averages (CSV)Inflation-adjusted annual (CSV)