Oil Prices in April 1986: WTI Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $12.84 per barrel in April 1986, up $0.23 (1.8%) from March 1986.
Daily spot prices, April 1986
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI |
|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1986 | $13.38 |
| Apr 29, 1986 | $13.63 |
| Apr 28, 1986 | $13.34 |
| Apr 25, 1986 | $14.23 |
| Apr 24, 1986 | $13.65 |
| Apr 23, 1986 | $13.70 |
| Apr 22, 1986 | $13.13 |
| Apr 21, 1986 | $12.48 |
| Apr 18, 1986 | $11.88 |
| Apr 17, 1986 | $11.75 |
| Apr 16, 1986 | $11.50 |
| Apr 15, 1986 | $12.72 |
| Apr 14, 1986 | $12.94 |
| Apr 11, 1986 | $13.63 |
| Apr 10, 1986 | $13.45 |
| Apr 9, 1986 | $13.00 |
| Apr 8, 1986 | $12.83 |
| Apr 7, 1986 | $14.39 |
| Apr 4, 1986 | $12.75 |
| Apr 3, 1986 | $11.70 |
| Apr 2, 1986 | $11.35 |
| Apr 1, 1986 | $11.13 |
Prices rose over the month, from $11.13 on Apr 1, 1986 to $13.38 on Apr 30, 1986, with gains on 15 of 22 trading days. The largest one-day move was +$1.64 on Apr 7, 1986 (+12.9%).
EIA's Brent spot price series begins on May 20, 1987, so this page has WTI prices only.
Among the 41 April averages EIA has published, 1986's ranks the lowest. Within 1986 it ranks 3rd lowest of the 12 monthly averages. The high was $14.39 on Apr 7, 1986 and the low $11.13 on Apr 1, 1986. WTI moved 5% or more from the previous published price on 9 days. In October 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the average equals $39.90 and the high of $14.39 equals $44.72.
April 1986 summary
| Measure | WTI |
|---|---|
| Monthly average | $12.84 |
| Change vs March 1986 | +$0.23 |
| Change vs April 1985 | — |
| Highest daily price | $14.39 Apr 7, 1986 |
| Lowest daily price | $11.13 Apr 1, 1986 |
| Published daily observations | 22 |
| Average in October 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $39.90 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for April 1986.
April in other years
| Year | WTI average | vs April 1986 | Real |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $100.32 | +681.3% | $101.67 |
| 2025 | $63.54 | +394.9% | $66.85 |
| 2024 | $85.35 | +564.7% | $91.87 |
| 2023 | $79.45 | +518.8% | $88.39 |
| 2022 | $101.78 | +692.7% | $118.82 |
| 2021 | $61.72 | +380.7% | $78.00 |
| 2020 | $16.55 | +28.9% | $21.79 |
| 2019 | $63.86 | +397.4% | $84.34 |
| 2018 | $66.25 | +416.0% | $89.25 |
| 2017 | $51.06 | +297.7% | $70.48 |
| 2016 | $40.75 | +217.4% | $57.48 |
| 2015 | $54.45 | +324.1% | $77.67 |
| 2014 | $102.07 | +694.9% | $145.31 |
| 2013 | $92.02 | +616.7% | $133.56 |
| 2012 | $103.32 | +704.7% | $151.56 |
| 2011 | $109.53 | +753.0% | $164.37 |
| 2010 | $84.29 | +556.5% | $130.49 |
| 2009 | $49.65 | +286.7% | $78.58 |
| 2008 | $112.58 | +776.8% | $176.88 |
| 2007 | $63.98 | +398.3% | $104.48 |
| 2006 | $69.44 | +440.8% | $116.31 |
| 2005 | $52.98 | +312.6% | $91.89 |
| 2004 | $36.75 | +186.2% | $65.98 |
| 2003 | $28.17 | +119.4% | $51.73 |
| 2002 | $26.18 | +103.9% | $49.14 |
| 2001 | $27.49 | +114.1% | $52.45 |
| 2000 | $25.72 | +100.3% | $50.68 |
| 1999 | $17.31 | +34.8% | $35.15 |
| 1998 | $15.35 | +19.5% | $31.88 |
| 1997 | $19.70 | +53.4% | $41.50 |
| 1996 | $23.50 | +83.0% | $50.75 |
| 1995 | $19.90 | +55.0% | $44.22 |
| 1994 | $16.42 | +27.9% | $37.60 |
| 1993 | $20.25 | +57.7% | $47.46 |
| 1992 | $20.23 | +57.6% | $48.95 |
| 1991 | $20.83 | +62.2% | $52.00 |
| 1990 | $18.43 | +43.5% | $48.26 |
| 1989 | $21.07 | +64.1% | $57.77 |
| 1988 | $17.86 | +39.1% | $51.48 |
| 1987 | $18.68 | +45.5% | $55.94 |
| 1986 | $12.84 | — | $39.90 |
“—” in the real column means BLS has published no CPI-U for that month. The comparison column shows how far that year's average was from April 1986.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Apr 1, 1986 – Apr 30, 1986 | Apr 30, 1986 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly | October 2026 |
Last updated: Nov 10, 2026, 7:01 PM CST. Raw values are shown in source units; any conversion is labeled. See methodology and data sources.
Download:1986 daily prices (CSV)