Oil Prices in April 1988: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI's monthly average rose to $17.86 in April 1988, up $1.66 (10.2%) from March 1988. A year earlier, in April 1987, it averaged $18.68, so the price was lower by $0.82 (4.4%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, April 1988
Chart data table (20 rows; WTI on 20, Brent on 19)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | $18.10 | $16.60 |
| Apr 28, 1988 | $17.91 | $16.88 |
| Apr 27, 1988 | $18.32 | $17.40 |
| Apr 26, 1988 | $18.54 | $17.18 |
| Apr 25, 1988 | $18.36 | $17.13 |
| Apr 22, 1988 | $18.13 | $17.15 |
| Apr 21, 1988 | $18.34 | $17.00 |
| Apr 20, 1988 | $17.93 | $16.78 |
| Apr 19, 1988 | $17.92 | $17.05 |
| Apr 18, 1988 | $18.50 | $17.45 |
| Apr 15, 1988 | $18.32 | $16.85 |
| Apr 14, 1988 | $18.40 | $16.65 |
| Apr 13, 1988 | $18.12 | $16.55 |
| Apr 12, 1988 | $18.06 | $16.48 |
| Apr 11, 1988 | $17.87 | $16.20 |
| Apr 8, 1988 | $16.87 | $15.55 |
| Apr 7, 1988 | $17.05 | $15.53 |
| Apr 6, 1988 | $16.80 | $15.38 |
| Apr 5, 1988 | $16.72 | $15.50 |
| Apr 4, 1988 | $16.99 | — |
Prices rose over the month, from $16.99 on Apr 4, 1988 to $18.10 on Apr 29, 1988. The largest one-day move was +$1.00 on Apr 11, 1988 (+5.9%).
Brent averaged $16.60, on matched dates $1.31 below WTI on average across 19 dates.
Among the 41 April averages EIA has published, 1988's ranks 6th lowest. Within 1988 it ranks the highest of the 12 monthly averages. The high was $18.54 on Apr 26, 1988 and the low $16.72 on Apr 5, 1988. WTI moved 5% or more from the previous published price on 1 day. In October 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the average equals $51.48 and the high of $18.54 equals $53.44.
April 1988 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $17.86 | $16.60 |
| Change vs March 1988 | +$1.66 | +$1.87 |
| Change vs April 1987 | −$0.82 | — |
| Highest daily price | $18.54 Apr 26, 1988 | $17.45 Apr 18, 1988 |
| Lowest daily price | $16.72 Apr 5, 1988 | $15.38 Apr 6, 1988 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 19 |
| Average in October 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $51.48 | $47.85 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for April 1988.
April in other years
| Year | WTI average | vs April 1988 | Real |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $100.32 | +461.7% | $101.67 |
| 2025 | $63.54 | +255.8% | $66.85 |
| 2024 | $85.35 | +377.9% | $91.87 |
| 2023 | $79.45 | +344.8% | $88.39 |
| 2022 | $101.78 | +469.9% | $118.82 |
| 2021 | $61.72 | +245.6% | $78.00 |
| 2020 | $16.55 | −7.3% | $21.79 |
| 2019 | $63.86 | +257.6% | $84.34 |
| 2018 | $66.25 | +270.9% | $89.25 |
| 2017 | $51.06 | +185.9% | $70.48 |
| 2016 | $40.75 | +128.2% | $57.48 |
| 2015 | $54.45 | +204.9% | $77.67 |
| 2014 | $102.07 | +471.5% | $145.31 |
| 2013 | $92.02 | +415.2% | $133.56 |
| 2012 | $103.32 | +478.5% | $151.56 |
| 2011 | $109.53 | +513.3% | $164.37 |
| 2010 | $84.29 | +371.9% | $130.49 |
| 2009 | $49.65 | +178.0% | $78.58 |
| 2008 | $112.58 | +530.3% | $176.88 |
| 2007 | $63.98 | +258.2% | $104.48 |
| 2006 | $69.44 | +288.8% | $116.31 |
| 2005 | $52.98 | +196.6% | $91.89 |
| 2004 | $36.75 | +105.8% | $65.98 |
| 2003 | $28.17 | +57.7% | $51.73 |
| 2002 | $26.18 | +46.6% | $49.14 |
| 2001 | $27.49 | +53.9% | $52.45 |
| 2000 | $25.72 | +44.0% | $50.68 |
| 1999 | $17.31 | −3.1% | $35.15 |
| 1998 | $15.35 | −14.1% | $31.88 |
| 1997 | $19.70 | +10.3% | $41.50 |
| 1996 | $23.50 | +31.6% | $50.75 |
| 1995 | $19.90 | +11.4% | $44.22 |
| 1994 | $16.42 | −8.1% | $37.60 |
| 1993 | $20.25 | +13.4% | $47.46 |
| 1992 | $20.23 | +13.3% | $48.95 |
| 1991 | $20.83 | +16.6% | $52.00 |
| 1990 | $18.43 | +3.2% | $48.26 |
| 1989 | $21.07 | +18.0% | $57.77 |
| 1988 | $17.86 | — | $51.48 |
| 1987 | $18.68 | +4.6% | $55.94 |
| 1986 | $12.84 | −28.1% | $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 1988.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Apr 4, 1988 – Apr 29, 1988 | Apr 29, 1988 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Apr 5, 1988 – Apr 29, 1988 | Apr 29, 1988 |
| 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:1988 daily prices (CSV)