Oil Prices in December 1989: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
At $21.10 per barrel, December 1989's WTI average was the highest monthly average in nominal terms since July 1987, up $1.24 (6.2%) from November 1989. The average was 29% above the $16.38 of December 1988.
Daily spot prices, December 1989
Chart data table (20 rows; WTI on 20, Brent on 19)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 1989 | $21.84 | $21.05 |
| Dec 28, 1989 | $21.60 | $20.85 |
| Dec 27, 1989 | $21.78 | $20.90 |
| Dec 26, 1989 | $21.91 | — |
| Dec 22, 1989 | $21.31 | $20.50 |
| Dec 21, 1989 | $21.53 | $20.13 |
| Dec 20, 1989 | $21.58 | $20.23 |
| Dec 19, 1989 | $22.17 | $20.28 |
| Dec 18, 1989 | $22.20 | $19.98 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | $21.13 | $19.68 |
| Dec 14, 1989 | $20.67 | $19.68 |
| Dec 13, 1989 | $20.75 | $19.78 |
| Dec 12, 1989 | $20.80 | $19.53 |
| Dec 11, 1989 | $20.69 | $19.45 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | $20.41 | $19.15 |
| Dec 7, 1989 | $20.45 | $19.33 |
| Dec 6, 1989 | $20.46 | $19.28 |
| Dec 5, 1989 | $20.22 | $19.18 |
| Dec 4, 1989 | $20.24 | $19.28 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | $20.26 | $18.68 |
Prices rose over the month, from $20.26 on Dec 1, 1989 to $21.84 on Dec 29, 1989. The largest one-day move was +$1.07 on Dec 18, 1989 (+5.1%).
Brent averaged $19.84, on matched dates $1.22 below WTI on average across 19 dates.
Among the 40 December averages EIA has published, 1989's ranks 12th lowest. Within 1989 it ranks the highest of the 12 monthly averages. The high was $22.20 on Dec 18, 1989 and the low $20.22 on Dec 5, 1989. WTI moved 5% or more from the previous published price on 1 day. In October 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the average equals $56.47 and the high of $22.20 equals $59.42.
December 1989 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $21.10 | $19.84 |
| Change vs November 1989 | +$1.24 | +$1.11 |
| Change vs December 1988 | +$4.72 | +$4.53 |
| Highest daily price | $22.20 Dec 18, 1989 | $21.05 Dec 29, 1989 |
| Lowest daily price | $20.22 Dec 5, 1989 | $18.68 Dec 1, 1989 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 19 |
| Average in October 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $56.47 | $53.10 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 1989.
December in other years
| Year | WTI average | vs December 1989 | Real |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57.97 | +174.7% | $60.38 |
| 2024 | $70.12 | +232.3% | $74.99 |
| 2023 | $71.90 | +240.8% | $79.11 |
| 2022 | $76.44 | +262.3% | $86.93 |
| 2021 | $71.71 | +239.9% | $86.81 |
| 2020 | $47.02 | +122.8% | $60.93 |
| 2019 | $59.88 | +183.8% | $78.65 |
| 2018 | $49.52 | +134.7% | $66.53 |
| 2017 | $57.88 | +174.3% | $79.24 |
| 2016 | $51.97 | +146.3% | $72.65 |
| 2015 | $37.19 | +76.3% | $53.07 |
| 2014 | $59.29 | +181.0% | $85.22 |
| 2013 | $97.63 | +362.7% | $141.39 |
| 2012 | $87.86 | +316.4% | $129.15 |
| 2011 | $98.56 | +367.1% | $147.40 |
| 2010 | $89.15 | +322.5% | $137.28 |
| 2009 | $74.47 | +252.9% | $116.39 |
| 2008 | $41.12 | +94.9% | $66.02 |
| 2007 | $91.69 | +334.5% | $147.34 |
| 2006 | $61.96 | +193.6% | $103.63 |
| 2005 | $59.41 | +181.6% | $101.89 |
| 2004 | $43.15 | +104.5% | $76.53 |
| 2003 | $32.13 | +52.3% | $58.84 |
| 2002 | $29.46 | +39.6% | $54.96 |
| 2001 | $19.39 | −8.1% | $37.04 |
| 2000 | $28.44 | +34.8% | $55.17 |
| 1999 | $26.10 | +23.7% | $52.34 |
| 1998 | $11.35 | −46.2% | $23.37 |
| 1997 | $18.33 | −13.1% | $38.35 |
| 1996 | $25.23 | +19.6% | $53.69 |
| 1995 | $19.03 | −9.8% | $41.84 |
| 1994 | $17.16 | −18.7% | $38.69 |
| 1993 | $14.52 | −31.2% | $33.61 |
| 1992 | $19.41 | −8.0% | $46.17 |
| 1991 | $19.50 | −7.6% | $47.73 |
| 1990 | $27.28 | +29.3% | $68.81 |
| 1989 | $21.10 | — | $56.47 |
| 1988 | $16.38 | −22.4% | $45.88 |
| 1987 | $17.28 | −18.1% | $50.54 |
| 1986 | $16.11 | −23.6% | $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 1989.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 1989 – Dec 29, 1989 | Dec 29, 1989 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 1989 – Dec 29, 1989 | Dec 29, 1989 |
| 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:1989 daily prices (CSV)