Oil Prices in October 1986: WTI Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $14.90 per barrel in October 1986, little changed from September 1986 ($14.87).
Daily spot prices, October 1986
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI |
|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | $15.25 |
| Oct 30, 1986 | $15.08 |
| Oct 29, 1986 | $13.73 |
| Oct 28, 1986 | $14.18 |
| Oct 27, 1986 | $14.40 |
| Oct 24, 1986 | $14.93 |
| Oct 23, 1986 | $14.88 |
| Oct 22, 1986 | $14.85 |
| Oct 21, 1986 | $15.22 |
| Oct 20, 1986 | $15.17 |
| Oct 17, 1986 | $14.85 |
| Oct 16, 1986 | $14.53 |
| Oct 15, 1986 | $14.83 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | $14.55 |
| Oct 10, 1986 | $14.98 |
| Oct 9, 1986 | $15.05 |
| Oct 8, 1986 | $15.35 |
| Oct 7, 1986 | $15.60 |
| Oct 6, 1986 | $14.83 |
| Oct 3, 1986 | $14.86 |
| Oct 2, 1986 | $15.38 |
| Oct 1, 1986 | $15.23 |
Prices peaked at $15.60 on Oct 7, 1986, then fell to $13.73 on Oct 29, 1986 and ended at $15.25. The largest one-day move was +$1.35 on Oct 30, 1986 (+9.8%).
EIA's Brent spot price series begins on May 20, 1987, so this page has WTI prices only.
Among the 41 October averages EIA has published, 1986's ranks 3rd lowest. Within 1986 it ranks 6th lowest of the 12 monthly averages. WTI moved 5% or more from the previous published price on 2 days. In October 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the average equals $45.59 and the high of $15.60 equals $47.74.
October 1986 summary
| Measure | WTI |
|---|---|
| Monthly average | $14.90 |
| Change vs September 1986 | +$0.03 |
| Change vs October 1985 | — |
| Highest daily price | $15.60 Oct 7, 1986 |
| Lowest daily price | $13.73 Oct 29, 1986 |
| Published daily observations | 22 |
| Average in October 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $45.59 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for October 1986.
October in other years
| Year | WTI average | vs October 1986 | Real |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $102.07 | +585.0% | $102.07 |
| 2025 | $60.89 | +308.7% | — |
| 2024 | $71.99 | +383.2% | $76.97 |
| 2023 | $85.64 | +474.8% | $93.95 |
| 2022 | $87.55 | +487.6% | $99.15 |
| 2021 | $81.48 | +446.8% | $99.43 |
| 2020 | $39.40 | +164.4% | $51.07 |
| 2019 | $53.96 | +262.1% | $70.77 |
| 2018 | $70.75 | +374.8% | $94.43 |
| 2017 | $51.58 | +246.2% | $70.58 |
| 2016 | $49.78 | +234.1% | $69.50 |
| 2015 | $46.22 | +210.2% | $65.59 |
| 2014 | $84.40 | +466.4% | $119.97 |
| 2013 | $100.54 | +574.8% | $145.30 |
| 2012 | $89.49 | +500.6% | $130.57 |
| 2011 | $86.32 | +479.3% | $128.67 |
| 2010 | $81.89 | +449.6% | $126.37 |
| 2009 | $75.72 | +408.2% | $118.22 |
| 2008 | $76.61 | +414.2% | $119.39 |
| 2007 | $85.80 | +475.8% | $138.60 |
| 2006 | $58.89 | +295.2% | $98.49 |
| 2005 | $62.26 | +317.9% | $105.49 |
| 2004 | $53.28 | +257.6% | $94.20 |
| 2003 | $30.34 | +103.6% | $55.35 |
| 2002 | $28.84 | +93.6% | $53.69 |
| 2001 | $22.17 | +48.8% | $42.11 |
| 2000 | $33.11 | +122.2% | $64.22 |
| 1999 | $22.69 | +52.3% | $45.53 |
| 1998 | $14.46 | −3.0% | $29.76 |
| 1997 | $21.33 | +43.2% | $44.55 |
| 1996 | $24.88 | +67.0% | $53.05 |
| 1995 | $17.43 | +17.0% | $38.27 |
| 1994 | $17.72 | +18.9% | $40.00 |
| 1993 | $18.15 | +21.8% | $42.04 |
| 1992 | $21.69 | +45.6% | $51.63 |
| 1991 | $23.23 | +55.9% | $57.06 |
| 1990 | $36.04 | +141.9% | $91.12 |
| 1989 | $20.10 | +34.9% | $54.01 |
| 1988 | $13.77 | −7.6% | $38.66 |
| 1987 | $19.86 | +33.3% | $58.14 |
| 1986 | $14.90 | — | $45.59 |
“—” 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 October 1986.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Oct 1, 1986 – Oct 31, 1986 | Oct 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)