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Oil Prices in 1996: WTI & Brent History and Monthly Averages

WTI average
$22.12
EIA annual average
WTI vs prior year
+20.0%
1995: $18.43
Brent average
$20.64
EIA annual average
Brent vs prior year
+21.3%
1995: $17.02

WTI averaged $22.12 per barrel in 1996, up $3.69 (20.0%) from 1995; that was the highest annual average since 1990.

Monthly average prices in 1996

Monthly averages and daily ranges, 1996 ($/bbl)
MonthWTI avgWTI highWTI lowBrent avgBrent − WTI (matched dates)WTI (September 2026 $)Brent (September 2026 $)
January$18.86$20.50$17.33$17.85−$1.00$41.16$38.95
February$19.09$22.14$17.53$18.00−$1.10$41.52$39.15
March$21.33$24.56$19.24$19.85−$1.48$46.16$42.96
April$23.50$25.15$20.95$20.90−$2.62$50.66$45.05
May$21.17$23.02$19.77$19.15−$2.02$45.55$41.20
June$20.42$21.53$19.73$18.46−$1.97$43.91$39.69
July$21.30$22.43$20.13$19.57−$1.74$45.71$42.00
August$21.90$23.10$20.95$20.51−$1.41$46.91$43.93
September$23.97$24.95$23.25$22.63−$1.32$51.18$48.32
October$24.88$25.85$23.25$24.16−$0.72$52.96$51.42
November$23.71$25.75$22.65$22.76−$0.96$50.37$48.35
December$25.23$26.55$23.40$23.78−$1.45$53.60$50.52

Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Brent − WTI is the average over dates with both prices published, so it can differ from the difference between the two monthly averages. Inflation-adjusted columns use CPI-U for each month, expressed in September 2026 dollars; “—” means CPI-U for that month is not available.

From $17.33 on Jan 29, 1996, WTI climbed to $26.55 by Dec 19, 1996, a 53% gain. The price moved by 5% or more in a single day 15 times. The steepest fall within the year ran from $25.15 on Apr 11, 1996 to $19.73 on Jun 5, 1996, a 22% drop. It was below $20 on 46 days.

Brent traded below WTI throughout 1996: its monthly average was lower in every month, and on the 250 matched dates it averaged $1.47 less. Brent averaged $20.64, up $3.62 (21.3%) from 1995.

The monthly average was lowest in January ($18.86) and highest in December ($25.23). In September 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the 1996 average is $47.50, lower than 2025's real average by $20.93 (30.6%). The 1990s as a whole averaged $19.70, so 1996 ran above its decade. Of 40 complete years with an EIA annual average, 1996 ranks 13th lowest.

1996 summary statistics

MeasureWTIBrentBrent − WTI
Average$22.12$20.64−$1.47
Change vs 1995 average+$3.69+$3.62−$0.07
Highest daily price$26.55 Dec 19, 1996$25.40 Oct 22, 1996—
Lowest daily price$17.33 Jan 29, 1996$16.23 Jan 29, 1996—
Highest daily spread——−$0.05 Sep 30, 1996
Lowest daily spread——−$4.79 Apr 17, 1996
First observation$19.83 Jan 2, 1996$18.95 Jan 2, 1996—
Last observation$25.90 Dec 31, 1996$23.90 Dec 31, 1996—
Published daily observations254254250 matched
Average in September 2026 dollars$47.50$44.32—

Daily spot prices in 1996

Show all 258 dates (Jan 2, 1996 – Dec 31, 1996)
DateWTIBrentBrent − WTI
Jan 2, 1996$19.83$18.95−$0.88
Jan 3, 1996$19.90$19.15−$0.75
Jan 4, 1996$19.96$19.13−$0.83
Jan 5, 1996$20.26$19.50−$0.76
Jan 8, 1996$20.50$19.68−$0.82
Jan 9, 1996$19.86$19.05−$0.81
Jan 10, 1996$19.66$18.48−$1.18
Jan 11, 1996$18.87$17.85−$1.02
Jan 12, 1996$18.28$17.58−$0.70
Jan 15, 1996$18.42$17.50−$0.92
Jan 16, 1996$18.12$17.73−$0.39
Jan 17, 1996$18.58$17.43−$1.15
Jan 18, 1996$19.12$17.88−$1.24
Jan 19, 1996$18.94$17.53−$1.41
Jan 22, 1996$18.49$17.53−$0.96
Jan 23, 1996$18.58$17.38−$1.20
Jan 24, 1996$18.95$17.33−$1.62
Jan 25, 1996$18.06$17.00−$1.06
Jan 26, 1996$17.68$16.70−$0.98
Jan 29, 1996$17.33$16.23−$1.10
Jan 30, 1996$17.65$16.53−$1.12
Jan 31, 1996$17.76$16.63−$1.13
Feb 1, 1996$17.63$16.78−$0.85
Feb 2, 1996$17.83$17.05−$0.78
Feb 5, 1996$17.53$16.93−$0.60
Feb 6, 1996$17.74$16.83−$0.91
Feb 7, 1996$17.71$16.93−$0.78
Feb 8, 1996$17.79$17.05−$0.74
Feb 9, 1996$17.83$17.23−$0.60
Feb 12, 1996$18.01$17.18−$0.83
Feb 13, 1996$18.96$18.08−$0.88
Feb 14, 1996$18.86$18.28−$0.58
Feb 15, 1996$19.02$18.18−$0.84
Feb 16, 1996$19.16$18.20−$0.96
Feb 19, 1996—$18.20—
Feb 20, 1996$21.07$18.58−$2.49
Feb 21, 1996$21.63$19.05−$2.58
Feb 22, 1996$22.14$19.28−$2.86
Feb 23, 1996$20.97$18.85−$2.12
Feb 26, 1996$19.45$18.85−$0.60
Feb 27, 1996$19.65$19.00−$0.65
Feb 28, 1996$19.30$18.65−$0.65
Feb 29, 1996$19.59$18.80−$0.79
Mar 1, 1996$19.45$18.55−$0.90
Mar 4, 1996$19.24$18.40−$0.84
Mar 5, 1996$19.65$18.75−$0.90
Mar 6, 1996$20.16$19.18−$0.98
Mar 7, 1996$19.87$19.03−$0.84
Mar 8, 1996$19.66$18.85−$0.81
Mar 11, 1996$19.92$18.93−$0.99
Mar 12, 1996$20.42$19.30−$1.12
Mar 13, 1996$20.49$19.58−$0.91
Mar 14, 1996$21.18$19.40−$1.78
Mar 15, 1996$21.99$19.30−$2.69
Mar 18, 1996$23.23$20.50−$2.73
Mar 19, 1996$24.56$20.35−$4.21
Mar 20, 1996$22.74$20.38−$2.36
Mar 21, 1996$22.44$20.35−$2.09
Mar 22, 1996$22.85$21.15−$1.70
Mar 25, 1996$23.23$21.30−$1.93
Mar 26, 1996$22.38$21.68−$0.70
Mar 27, 1996$21.64$21.33−$0.31
Mar 28, 1996$21.45$20.25−$1.20
Mar 29, 1996$21.43$20.33−$1.10
Apr 1, 1996$22.29$20.80−$1.49
Apr 2, 1996$22.68$21.18−$1.50
Apr 3, 1996$22.22$20.93−$1.29
Apr 4, 1996$22.75$20.85−$1.90
Apr 8, 1996$23.01——
Apr 9, 1996$23.23$21.43−$1.80
Apr 10, 1996$24.08$22.63−$1.45
Apr 11, 1996$25.15$23.90−$1.25
Apr 12, 1996$24.29$22.73−$1.56
Apr 15, 1996$25.13$22.68−$2.45
Apr 16, 1996$24.48$21.20−$3.28
Apr 17, 1996$24.67$19.88−$4.79
Apr 18, 1996$23.47$19.33−$4.14
Apr 19, 1996$23.96$19.53−$4.43
Apr 22, 1996$23.94$19.38−$4.56
Apr 23, 1996$24.39$20.88−$3.51
Apr 24, 1996$24.00$20.73−$3.27
Apr 25, 1996$24.35$20.35−$4.00
Apr 26, 1996$22.33$20.05−$2.28
Apr 29, 1996$22.07$20.05−$2.02
Apr 30, 1996$20.95$19.50−$1.45
May 1, 1996$20.81$18.95−$1.86
May 2, 1996$20.78$19.45−$1.33
May 3, 1996$21.19$19.38−$1.81
May 6, 1996$21.06——
May 7, 1996$21.07$20.08−$0.99
May 8, 1996$21.13$19.85−$1.28
May 9, 1996$20.65$19.35−$1.30
May 10, 1996$21.01$19.23−$1.78
May 13, 1996$21.23$19.48−$1.75
May 14, 1996$21.35$19.63−$1.72
May 15, 1996$21.28$19.50−$1.78
May 16, 1996$20.79$18.63−$2.16
May 17, 1996$20.64$18.05−$2.59
May 20, 1996$22.28$18.63−$3.65
May 21, 1996$21.95$18.70−$3.25
May 22, 1996$23.02$19.40−$3.62
May 23, 1996$22.35$19.53−$2.82
May 24, 1996$21.58$19.73−$1.85
May 28, 1996$21.10$19.53−$1.57
May 29, 1996$20.65$18.95−$1.70
May 30, 1996$19.95$18.10−$1.85
May 31, 1996$19.77$18.10−$1.67
Jun 3, 1996$19.86$18.25−$1.61
Jun 4, 1996$20.28$18.50−$1.78
Jun 5, 1996$19.73$18.20−$1.53
Jun 6, 1996$20.06$18.18−$1.88
Jun 7, 1996$20.28$18.40−$1.88
Jun 10, 1996$20.18$18.48−$1.70
Jun 11, 1996$20.13$18.28−$1.85
Jun 12, 1996$20.13$18.23−$1.90
Jun 13, 1996$20.03$17.98−$2.05
Jun 14, 1996$20.28$17.83−$2.45
Jun 17, 1996$21.43$18.70−$2.73
Jun 18, 1996$21.53$18.80−$2.73
Jun 19, 1996$20.73$18.40−$2.33
Jun 20, 1996$20.68$18.43−$2.25
Jun 21, 1996$20.38$18.45−$1.93
Jun 24, 1996$20.10$18.38−$1.72
Jun 25, 1996$20.13$18.38−$1.75
Jun 26, 1996$20.63$18.60−$2.03
Jun 27, 1996$20.98$19.38−$1.60
Jun 28, 1996$20.92$19.28−$1.64
Jul 1, 1996$21.48$19.77−$1.71
Jul 2, 1996$21.08$19.43−$1.65
Jul 3, 1996$21.38$19.13−$2.25
Jul 4, 1996—$19.77—
Jul 5, 1996$21.65$19.99−$1.66
Jul 8, 1996$21.33$19.62−$1.71
Jul 9, 1996$21.52$19.63−$1.89
Jul 10, 1996$21.56$19.80−$1.76
Jul 11, 1996$21.96$20.01−$1.95
Jul 12, 1996$21.90$19.93−$1.97
Jul 15, 1996$22.43$20.20−$2.23
Jul 16, 1996$22.28$20.30−$1.98
Jul 17, 1996$21.65$19.75−$1.90
Jul 18, 1996$21.68$19.95−$1.73
Jul 19, 1996$20.95$19.45−$1.50
Jul 22, 1996$21.05$19.23−$1.82
Jul 23, 1996$21.58$19.50−$2.08
Jul 24, 1996$20.97$19.36−$1.61
Jul 25, 1996$21.05$19.50−$1.55
Jul 26, 1996$20.13$18.92−$1.21
Jul 29, 1996$20.28$18.99−$1.29
Jul 30, 1996$20.28$18.90−$1.38
Jul 31, 1996$20.46$19.00−$1.46
Aug 1, 1996$20.95$18.84−$2.11
Aug 2, 1996$21.35$19.63−$1.72
Aug 5, 1996$21.25$19.65−$1.60
Aug 6, 1996$21.08$19.45−$1.63
Aug 7, 1996$21.35$19.48−$1.87
Aug 8, 1996$21.45$20.03−$1.42
Aug 9, 1996$21.60$20.05−$1.55
Aug 12, 1996$22.25$20.65−$1.60
Aug 13, 1996$22.35$21.03−$1.32
Aug 14, 1996$22.10$20.90−$1.20
Aug 15, 1996$21.95$20.88−$1.07
Aug 16, 1996$22.60$21.30−$1.30
Aug 19, 1996$23.10$21.58−$1.52
Aug 20, 1996$22.53$21.35−$1.18
Aug 21, 1996$22.15$20.80−$1.35
Aug 22, 1996$22.48$21.25−$1.23
Aug 23, 1996$22.23$20.78−$1.45
Aug 26, 1996$21.55——
Aug 27, 1996$21.35$20.45−$0.90
Aug 28, 1996$21.75$20.68−$1.07
Aug 29, 1996$22.20$21.00−$1.20
Aug 30, 1996$22.25$20.98−$1.27
Sep 2, 1996—$22.23—
Sep 3, 1996$23.35$21.90−$1.45
Sep 4, 1996$23.25$22.20−$1.05
Sep 5, 1996$23.45$22.15−$1.30
Sep 6, 1996$23.85$22.43−$1.42
Sep 9, 1996$23.75$22.25−$1.50
Sep 10, 1996$24.15$22.68−$1.47
Sep 11, 1996$24.75$23.30−$1.45
Sep 12, 1996$24.95$23.35−$1.60
Sep 13, 1996$24.50$23.83−$0.67
Sep 16, 1996$23.30$22.60−$0.70
Sep 17, 1996$23.40$21.70−$1.70
Sep 18, 1996$23.85$22.38−$1.47
Sep 19, 1996$23.45$22.08−$1.37
Sep 20, 1996$23.60$21.78−$1.82
Sep 23, 1996$23.83$22.15−$1.68
Sep 24, 1996$24.55$22.78−$1.77
Sep 25, 1996$24.60$23.05−$1.55
Sep 26, 1996$24.05$23.35−$0.70
Sep 27, 1996$24.60$22.90−$1.70
Sep 30, 1996$24.20$24.15−$0.05
Oct 1, 1996$24.35$23.18−$1.17
Oct 2, 1996$24.05$23.13−$0.92
Oct 3, 1996$24.85$23.63−$1.22
Oct 4, 1996$24.75$23.88−$0.87
Oct 7, 1996$25.25$24.28−$0.97
Oct 8, 1996$25.45$24.55−$0.90
Oct 9, 1996$25.00$24.58−$0.42
Oct 10, 1996$24.30$23.63−$0.67
Oct 11, 1996$24.65$23.85−$0.80
Oct 14, 1996$25.50$24.75−$0.75
Oct 15, 1996$25.45$24.58−$0.87
Oct 16, 1996$25.10$24.50−$0.60
Oct 17, 1996$25.40$24.83−$0.57
Oct 18, 1996$25.80$25.18−$0.62
Oct 21, 1996$25.85$25.08−$0.77
Oct 22, 1996$25.79$25.40−$0.39
Oct 23, 1996$24.78$24.60−$0.18
Oct 24, 1996$24.55$24.28−$0.27
Oct 25, 1996$24.80$24.13−$0.67
Oct 28, 1996$24.75$24.45−$0.30
Oct 29, 1996$24.15$23.30−$0.85
Oct 30, 1996$24.40$23.15−$1.25
Oct 31, 1996$23.25$22.80−$0.45
Nov 1, 1996$23.00$22.30−$0.70
Nov 4, 1996$22.80$22.10−$0.70
Nov 5, 1996$22.65$21.85−$0.80
Nov 6, 1996$22.75$21.85−$0.90
Nov 7, 1996$22.80$21.75−$1.05
Nov 8, 1996$23.60$22.40−$1.20
Nov 11, 1996$23.35$22.70−$0.65
Nov 12, 1996$23.40$22.38−$1.02
Nov 13, 1996$24.25$22.88−$1.37
Nov 14, 1996$24.35$23.18−$1.17
Nov 15, 1996$24.15$23.28−$0.87
Nov 18, 1996$23.85$22.75−$1.10
Nov 19, 1996$24.50$23.13−$1.37
Nov 20, 1996$23.75$23.40−$0.35
Nov 21, 1996$23.90$22.90−$1.00
Nov 22, 1996$24.15$23.86−$0.29
Nov 25, 1996$25.75$23.22−$2.53
Nov 26, 1996$23.70$22.78−$0.92
Nov 27, 1996$23.70$23.07−$0.63
Nov 28, 1996—$23.00—
Nov 29, 1996$23.70$23.17−$0.53
Dec 2, 1996$24.70$23.50−$1.20
Dec 3, 1996$24.80$24.12−$0.68
Dec 4, 1996$25.00$24.21−$0.79
Dec 5, 1996$25.60$24.49−$1.11
Dec 6, 1996$25.60$24.56−$1.04
Dec 9, 1996$25.15$24.18−$0.97
Dec 10, 1996$24.25$23.74−$0.51
Dec 11, 1996$23.40$22.95−$0.45
Dec 12, 1996$23.75$22.65−$1.10
Dec 13, 1996$24.45$22.83−$1.62
Dec 16, 1996$25.70$23.98−$1.72
Dec 17, 1996$25.70$24.05−$1.65
Dec 18, 1996$26.05$23.69−$2.36
Dec 19, 1996$26.55$24.18−$2.37
Dec 20, 1996$26.10$23.96−$2.14
Dec 23, 1996$26.40$23.51−$2.89
Dec 24, 1996$25.05$23.66−$1.39
Dec 26, 1996$25.10——
Dec 27, 1996$25.20$23.55−$1.65
Dec 30, 1996$25.35$23.95−$1.40
Dec 31, 1996$25.90$23.90−$2.00

“—” means EIA published no price for that benchmark on that date.

Source and methodology

ProviderSeriesUnitsCoverageLatest observation
U.S. Energy Information AdministrationRWTC — WTI spot price FOB$/bblJan 2, 1996 – Dec 31, 1996Dec 31, 1996
U.S. Energy Information AdministrationRBRTE — Brent spot price FOB$/bblJan 2, 1996 – Dec 31, 1996Dec 31, 1996
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSAindex, 1982–84=100monthly and annual averageSeptember 2026

Inflation adjustment: real = nominal × CPI-U(September 2026) ÷ CPI-U(period). Annual figures use the BLS annual average CPI-U; a year without one uses the mean of the months published so far.

Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 5:27 PM CDT. Raw values are shown in source units; any conversion is labeled. See methodology and data sources.

Download:1996 daily prices (CSV)