Oil Prices in December 1986: WTI Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $16.11 per barrel in December 1986, up $0.89 (5.8%) from November 1986.
Daily spot prices, December 1986
Chart data table (21 rows)
| Period | WTI |
|---|---|
| Dec 31, 1986 | $17.93 |
| Dec 30, 1986 | $17.73 |
| Dec 29, 1986 | $17.65 |
| Dec 24, 1986 | $17.26 |
| Dec 23, 1986 | $16.93 |
| Dec 22, 1986 | $16.95 |
| Dec 19, 1986 | $16.55 |
| Dec 18, 1986 | $16.28 |
| Dec 17, 1986 | $15.83 |
| Dec 16, 1986 | $16.11 |
| Dec 15, 1986 | $16.38 |
| Dec 12, 1986 | $16.13 |
| Dec 11, 1986 | $15.49 |
| Dec 10, 1986 | $15.12 |
| Dec 9, 1986 | $14.93 |
| Dec 8, 1986 | $15.01 |
| Dec 5, 1986 | $15.14 |
| Dec 4, 1986 | $15.20 |
| Dec 3, 1986 | $15.13 |
| Dec 2, 1986 | $15.22 |
| Dec 1, 1986 | $15.29 |
Prices rose over the month, from $15.29 on Dec 1, 1986 to $17.93 on Dec 31, 1986, with gains on 13 of 21 trading days. The largest one-day move was +$0.64 on Dec 12, 1986 (+4.1%).
EIA's Brent spot price series begins on May 20, 1987, so this page has WTI prices only.
Among the 40 December averages EIA has published, 1986's ranks 3rd lowest. Within 1986 it ranks 2nd highest of the 12 monthly averages. The high was $17.93 on Dec 31, 1986 and the low $14.93 on Dec 9, 1986. In October 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the average equals $49.21 and the high of $17.93 equals $54.77.
December 1986 summary
| Measure | WTI |
|---|---|
| Monthly average | $16.11 |
| Change vs November 1986 | +$0.89 |
| Change vs December 1985 | — |
| Highest daily price | $17.93 Dec 31, 1986 |
| Lowest daily price | $14.93 Dec 9, 1986 |
| Published daily observations | 21 |
| Average in October 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $49.21 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 1986.
December in other years
| Year | WTI average | vs December 1986 | Real |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57.97 | +259.8% | $60.38 |
| 2024 | $70.12 | +335.3% | $74.99 |
| 2023 | $71.90 | +346.3% | $79.11 |
| 2022 | $76.44 | +374.5% | $86.93 |
| 2021 | $71.71 | +345.1% | $86.81 |
| 2020 | $47.02 | +191.9% | $60.93 |
| 2019 | $59.88 | +271.7% | $78.65 |
| 2018 | $49.52 | +207.4% | $66.53 |
| 2017 | $57.88 | +259.3% | $79.24 |
| 2016 | $51.97 | +222.6% | $72.65 |
| 2015 | $37.19 | +130.9% | $53.07 |
| 2014 | $59.29 | +268.0% | $85.22 |
| 2013 | $97.63 | +506.0% | $141.39 |
| 2012 | $87.86 | +445.4% | $129.15 |
| 2011 | $98.56 | +511.8% | $147.40 |
| 2010 | $89.15 | +453.4% | $137.28 |
| 2009 | $74.47 | +362.3% | $116.39 |
| 2008 | $41.12 | +155.2% | $66.02 |
| 2007 | $91.69 | +469.1% | $147.34 |
| 2006 | $61.96 | +284.6% | $103.63 |
| 2005 | $59.41 | +268.8% | $101.89 |
| 2004 | $43.15 | +167.8% | $76.53 |
| 2003 | $32.13 | +99.4% | $58.84 |
| 2002 | $29.46 | +82.9% | $54.96 |
| 2001 | $19.39 | +20.4% | $37.04 |
| 2000 | $28.44 | +76.5% | $55.17 |
| 1999 | $26.10 | +62.0% | $52.34 |
| 1998 | $11.35 | −29.5% | $23.37 |
| 1997 | $18.33 | +13.8% | $38.35 |
| 1996 | $25.23 | +56.6% | $53.69 |
| 1995 | $19.03 | +18.1% | $41.84 |
| 1994 | $17.16 | +6.5% | $38.69 |
| 1993 | $14.52 | −9.9% | $33.61 |
| 1992 | $19.41 | +20.5% | $46.17 |
| 1991 | $19.50 | +21.0% | $47.73 |
| 1990 | $27.28 | +69.3% | $68.81 |
| 1989 | $21.10 | +31.0% | $56.47 |
| 1988 | $16.38 | +1.7% | $45.88 |
| 1987 | $17.28 | +7.3% | $50.54 |
| 1986 | $16.11 | — | $49.21 |
“—” 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 December 1986.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 1986 – Dec 31, 1986 | Dec 31, 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)