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Oil Prices in 2006: WTI & Brent History and Monthly Averages

WTI average
$66.05
EIA annual average
WTI vs prior year
+16.6%
2005: $56.64
Brent average
$65.16
EIA annual average
Brent vs prior year
+19.4%
2005: $54.57

WTI averaged $66.05 per barrel in 2006, up $9.41 (16.6%) from 2005; that was the highest annual average since EIA's WTI series began in 1986, and the 5th consecutive annual increase.

Monthly average prices in 2006

Monthly averages and daily ranges, 2006 ($/bbl)
MonthWTI avgWTI highWTI lowBrent avgBrent − WTI (matched dates)WTI (September 2026 $)Brent (September 2026 $)
January$65.49$68.36$62.81$62.99−$2.47$111.28$107.03
February$61.63$66.61$57.61$60.21−$1.41$104.51$102.10
March$62.69$66.70$59.91$62.06−$0.62$105.72$104.66
April$69.44$73.73$65.75$70.26+$0.86$116.11$117.49
May$70.84$74.62$68.44$69.78−$1.04$117.87$116.11
June$70.95$73.94$68.48$68.56−$2.40$117.82$113.85
July$74.41$76.80$72.79$73.67−$0.72$123.20$121.98
August$73.04$77.05$69.74$73.23+$0.19$120.70$121.01
September$63.80$69.24$59.79$61.96−$2.17$105.95$102.89
October$58.89$60.96$56.74$57.81−$1.08$98.33$96.52
November$59.08$62.97$55.90$58.76−$0.47$98.79$98.26
December$61.96$63.43$60.31$62.47+$0.47$103.45$104.30

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 $57.61 on Feb 15, 2006, WTI climbed to $77.05 by Aug 7, 2006, a 34% gain. The steepest fall within the year ran from $77.05 on Aug 7, 2006 to $55.90 on Nov 17, 2006, a 27% drop. Between August and September the monthly average fell $9.24, the largest month-to-month change of the year. The largest one-day move was +$4.28 on Apr 26, 2006 (+6.3%).

The Brent–WTI spread changed sign during 2006: Brent's monthly average was below WTI's in 9 of 12 months and above it in the rest, for an average of −$0.92 on 247 matched dates. Brent averaged $65.16, up $10.59 (19.4%) from 2005.

Monthly averages peaked early, at $74.41 in July, and bottomed at $58.89 in October. In September 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the 2006 average is $110.39, higher than 2025's real average by $41.96 (61.3%). The 2000s as a whole averaged $51.10, so 2006 ran above its decade. Of 40 complete years with an EIA annual average, 2006 ranks 12th highest.

2006 summary statistics

MeasureWTIBrentBrent − WTI
Average$66.05$65.16−$0.92
Change vs 2005 average+$9.41+$10.59+$1.15
Highest daily price$77.05 Aug 7, 2006$78.26 Aug 9, 2006—
Lowest daily price$55.90 Nov 17, 2006$55.82 Oct 4, 2006—
Highest daily spread——+$5.43 Apr 25, 2006
Lowest daily spread——−$5.36 Sep 27, 2006
First observation$63.11 Jan 3, 2006$61.51 Jan 3, 2006—
Last observation$60.85 Dec 29, 2006$58.96 Dec 29, 2006—
Published daily observations249255247 matched
Average in September 2026 dollars$110.39$108.90—

Daily spot prices in 2006

Show all 257 dates (Jan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006)
DateWTIBrentBrent − WTI
Jan 3, 2006$63.11$61.51−$1.60
Jan 4, 2006$63.41$61.25−$2.16
Jan 5, 2006$62.81$61.68−$1.13
Jan 6, 2006$64.21$62.43−$1.78
Jan 9, 2006$63.56$62.51−$1.05
Jan 10, 2006$63.41$62.32−$1.09
Jan 11, 2006$63.91$61.54−$2.37
Jan 12, 2006$63.96$62.95−$1.01
Jan 13, 2006$63.86$61.58−$2.28
Jan 16, 2006—$62.34—
Jan 17, 2006$66.36$63.22−$3.14
Jan 18, 2006$65.76$63.60−$2.16
Jan 19, 2006$66.86$63.64−$3.22
Jan 20, 2006$68.16$64.92−$3.24
Jan 23, 2006$68.06$64.56−$3.50
Jan 24, 2006$66.83$63.82−$3.01
Jan 25, 2006$65.60$62.61−$2.99
Jan 26, 2006$65.80$62.93−$2.87
Jan 27, 2006$67.81$64.95−$2.86
Jan 30, 2006$68.36$65.14−$3.22
Jan 31, 2006$67.86$63.19−$4.67
Feb 1, 2006$66.61$65.64−$0.97
Feb 2, 2006$64.71$63.49−$1.22
Feb 3, 2006$65.41$62.54−$2.87
Feb 6, 2006$65.11$63.32−$1.79
Feb 7, 2006$63.01$61.64−$1.37
Feb 8, 2006$62.51$60.82−$1.69
Feb 9, 2006$62.66$60.70−$1.96
Feb 10, 2006$62.01$59.66−$2.35
Feb 13, 2006$61.26$59.16−$2.10
Feb 14, 2006$59.61$58.27−$1.34
Feb 15, 2006$57.61$57.67+$0.06
Feb 16, 2006$58.61$56.78−$1.83
Feb 17, 2006$59.76$58.34−$1.42
Feb 20, 2006—$60.05—
Feb 21, 2006$61.21$59.35−$1.86
Feb 22, 2006$59.03$58.71−$0.32
Feb 23, 2006$58.03$58.71+$0.68
Feb 24, 2006$61.46$60.13−$1.33
Feb 27, 2006$61.01$59.44−$1.57
Feb 28, 2006$61.37$59.78−$1.59
Mar 1, 2006$62.01$61.12−$0.89
Mar 2, 2006$63.36$62.27−$1.09
Mar 3, 2006$63.61$62.69−$0.92
Mar 6, 2006$62.46$61.41−$1.05
Mar 7, 2006$61.51$59.79−$1.72
Mar 8, 2006$60.06$58.42−$1.64
Mar 9, 2006$60.51$58.82−$1.69
Mar 10, 2006$59.91$59.04−$0.87
Mar 13, 2006$61.81$60.99−$0.82
Mar 14, 2006$63.01$62.39−$0.62
Mar 15, 2006$62.11$63.12+$1.01
Mar 16, 2006$63.46$62.07−$1.39
Mar 17, 2006$62.81$63.54+$0.73
Mar 20, 2006$60.31$62.30+$1.99
Mar 21, 2006$60.41$59.96−$0.45
Mar 22, 2006$60.03$61.23+$1.20
Mar 23, 2006$62.13$61.76−$0.37
Mar 24, 2006$63.90$62.78−$1.12
Mar 27, 2006$63.75$62.59−$1.16
Mar 28, 2006$65.65$64.31−$1.34
Mar 29, 2006$66.00$64.88−$1.12
Mar 30, 2006$66.70$65.95−$0.75
Mar 31, 2006$66.25$66.06−$0.19
Apr 3, 2006$66.07$67.28+$1.21
Apr 4, 2006$65.75$65.93+$0.18
Apr 5, 2006$66.76$66.74−$0.02
Apr 6, 2006$67.22$67.58+$0.36
Apr 7, 2006$67.02$67.11+$0.09
Apr 10, 2006$68.29$68.20−$0.09
Apr 11, 2006$69.03$68.52−$0.51
Apr 12, 2006$68.53$69.54+$1.01
Apr 13, 2006$69.53$69.39−$0.14
Apr 17, 2006$70.30——
Apr 18, 2006$71.28$70.97−$0.31
Apr 19, 2006$72.07$72.69+$0.62
Apr 20, 2006$71.96$72.57+$0.61
Apr 21, 2006$73.73$73.94+$0.21
Apr 24, 2006$70.19$73.96+$3.77
Apr 25, 2006$67.43$72.86+$5.43
Apr 26, 2006$71.71$73.46+$1.75
Apr 27, 2006$70.76$71.79+$1.03
Apr 28, 2006$71.80$72.15+$0.35
May 1, 2006$73.75$73.37−$0.38
May 2, 2006$74.62$74.45−$0.17
May 3, 2006$72.26$73.73+$1.47
May 4, 2006$69.98$71.84+$1.86
May 5, 2006$70.09$71.22+$1.13
May 8, 2006$69.75$68.26−$1.49
May 9, 2006$70.71$70.60−$0.11
May 10, 2006$72.15$69.83−$2.32
May 11, 2006$73.00$72.20−$0.80
May 12, 2006$71.87$71.30−$0.57
May 15, 2006$69.25$68.69−$0.56
May 16, 2006$69.40$68.66−$0.74
May 17, 2006$68.65$67.52−$1.13
May 18, 2006$69.63$67.39−$2.24
May 19, 2006$68.44$66.93−$1.51
May 22, 2006$69.23$66.52−$2.71
May 23, 2006$70.78$68.97−$1.81
May 24, 2006$69.47$68.45−$1.02
May 25, 2006$70.92$68.51−$2.41
May 26, 2006$71.35$69.88−$1.47
May 29, 2006—$69.16—
May 30, 2006$71.85$69.82−$2.03
May 31, 2006$71.42$67.57−$3.85
Jun 1, 2006$70.11$68.77−$1.34
Jun 2, 2006$72.73$68.42−$4.31
Jun 5, 2006$72.50$69.13−$3.37
Jun 6, 2006$72.43$68.25−$4.18
Jun 7, 2006$70.90$67.17−$3.73
Jun 8, 2006$70.25$65.76−$4.49
Jun 9, 2006$71.62$69.13−$2.49
Jun 12, 2006$70.28$68.62−$1.66
Jun 13, 2006$68.48$65.67−$2.81
Jun 14, 2006$69.12$65.52−$3.60
Jun 15, 2006$69.78$66.04−$3.74
Jun 16, 2006$69.75$65.01−$4.74
Jun 19, 2006$69.21$66.40−$2.81
Jun 20, 2006$69.30$67.57−$1.73
Jun 21, 2006$70.07$68.17−$1.90
Jun 22, 2006$70.62$69.60−$1.02
Jun 23, 2006$70.50$69.91−$0.59
Jun 26, 2006$71.63$69.85−$1.78
Jun 27, 2006$72.05$71.26−$0.79
Jun 28, 2006$72.15$71.76−$0.39
Jun 29, 2006$73.50$73.02−$0.48
Jun 30, 2006$73.94$73.20−$0.74
Jul 3, 2006—$73.94—
Jul 4, 2006—$73.17—
Jul 5, 2006$75.20$72.88−$2.32
Jul 6, 2006$75.00$73.12−$1.88
Jul 7, 2006$73.76$74.14+$0.38
Jul 10, 2006$73.50$72.39−$1.11
Jul 11, 2006$74.05$73.14−$0.91
Jul 12, 2006$74.99$73.04−$1.95
Jul 13, 2006$76.70$75.23−$1.47
Jul 14, 2006$76.80$76.13−$0.67
Jul 17, 2006$75.70$75.12−$0.58
Jul 18, 2006$73.87$75.32+$1.45
Jul 19, 2006$72.79$71.62−$1.17
Jul 20, 2006$74.00$72.56−$1.44
Jul 21, 2006$73.52$72.96−$0.56
Jul 24, 2006$74.29$72.09−$2.20
Jul 25, 2006$73.46$72.49−$0.97
Jul 26, 2006$73.82$73.76−$0.06
Jul 27, 2006$74.50$75.36+$0.86
Jul 28, 2006$73.30$73.95+$0.65
Jul 31, 2006$74.56$74.75+$0.19
Aug 1, 2006$74.93$76.39+$1.46
Aug 2, 2006$76.16$77.63+$1.47
Aug 3, 2006$75.59$76.28+$0.69
Aug 4, 2006$74.78$76.53+$1.75
Aug 7, 2006$77.05$77.82+$0.77
Aug 8, 2006$76.29$77.93+$1.64
Aug 9, 2006$76.28$78.26+$1.98
Aug 10, 2006$74.17$75.69+$1.52
Aug 11, 2006$74.38$75.19+$0.81
Aug 14, 2006$73.33$73.78+$0.45
Aug 15, 2006$72.95$73.57+$0.62
Aug 16, 2006$71.64$72.67+$1.03
Aug 17, 2006$70.12$70.42+$0.30
Aug 18, 2006$70.93$71.30+$0.37
Aug 21, 2006$72.45$72.42−$0.03
Aug 22, 2006$72.55$72.06−$0.49
Aug 23, 2006$71.45$71.12−$0.33
Aug 24, 2006$72.02$71.40−$0.62
Aug 25, 2006$72.13$72.58+$0.45
Aug 28, 2006$70.47$69.44−$1.03
Aug 29, 2006$69.74$67.01−$2.73
Aug 30, 2006$70.20$67.15−$3.05
Aug 31, 2006$70.38$67.66−$2.72
Sep 1, 2006$69.24$70.49+$1.25
Sep 4, 2006—$68.62—
Sep 5, 2006$68.70$65.94−$2.76
Sep 6, 2006$67.75$65.41−$2.34
Sep 7, 2006$67.37$64.52−$2.85
Sep 8, 2006$66.30$64.30−$2.00
Sep 11, 2006$65.42$62.41−$3.01
Sep 12, 2006$63.81$62.23−$1.58
Sep 13, 2006$64.09$61.28−$2.81
Sep 14, 2006$63.27$60.75−$2.52
Sep 15, 2006$63.30$60.23−$3.07
Sep 18, 2006$63.84$61.47−$2.37
Sep 19, 2006$61.77$62.52+$0.75
Sep 20, 2006$60.00$59.09−$0.91
Sep 21, 2006$61.62$59.27−$2.35
Sep 22, 2006$59.79$58.81−$0.98
Sep 25, 2006$60.74$57.89−$2.85
Sep 26, 2006$60.63$58.53−$2.10
Sep 27, 2006$62.96$57.60−$5.36
Sep 28, 2006$62.46$60.68−$1.78
Sep 29, 2006$62.90$59.09−$3.81
Oct 2, 2006$60.96$58.80−$2.16
Oct 3, 2006$58.64$56.28−$2.36
Oct 4, 2006$59.53$55.82−$3.71
Oct 5, 2006$60.02$57.93−$2.09
Oct 6, 2006$59.68$56.90−$2.78
Oct 9, 2006$59.93$59.25−$0.68
Oct 10, 2006$58.50$57.80−$0.70
Oct 11, 2006$57.56$57.75+$0.19
Oct 12, 2006$58.23$57.87−$0.36
Oct 13, 2006$58.69$58.97+$0.28
Oct 16, 2006$59.91$58.22−$1.69
Oct 17, 2006$58.91$60.13+$1.22
Oct 18, 2006$57.66$58.51+$0.85
Oct 19, 2006$58.55$57.74−$0.81
Oct 20, 2006$57.35$57.94+$0.59
Oct 23, 2006$56.74$56.56−$0.18
Oct 24, 2006$57.55$56.56−$0.99
Oct 25, 2006$59.09$58.79−$0.30
Oct 26, 2006$60.27$58.76−$1.51
Oct 27, 2006$60.75$57.99−$2.76
Oct 30, 2006$58.41$57.08−$1.33
Oct 31, 2006$58.72$56.13−$2.59
Nov 1, 2006$58.64$56.37−$2.27
Nov 2, 2006$57.87$56.26−$1.61
Nov 3, 2006$59.13$56.55−$2.58
Nov 6, 2006$60.11$57.02−$3.09
Nov 7, 2006$58.94$56.99−$1.95
Nov 8, 2006$59.93$57.18−$2.75
Nov 9, 2006$61.18$59.72−$1.46
Nov 10, 2006$59.66$59.18−$0.48
Nov 13, 2006$58.59$56.88−$1.71
Nov 14, 2006$58.28$57.90−$0.38
Nov 15, 2006$58.79$57.97−$0.82
Nov 16, 2006$56.23$59.50+$3.27
Nov 17, 2006$55.90$57.01+$1.11
Nov 20, 2006$56.42$57.38+$0.96
Nov 21, 2006$58.01$59.53+$1.52
Nov 22, 2006$57.28$58.66+$1.38
Nov 23, 2006—$59.70—
Nov 24, 2006—$60.72—
Nov 27, 2006$60.30$60.52+$0.22
Nov 28, 2006$60.97$61.22+$0.25
Nov 29, 2006$62.45$62.13−$0.32
Nov 30, 2006$62.97$64.36+$1.39
Dec 1, 2006$63.43$64.74+$1.31
Dec 4, 2006$62.39$63.97+$1.58
Dec 5, 2006$62.40$63.65+$1.25
Dec 6, 2006$62.20$63.70+$1.50
Dec 7, 2006$62.54$63.17+$0.63
Dec 8, 2006$62.06$63.67+$1.61
Dec 11, 2006$61.26$62.59+$1.33
Dec 12, 2006$61.06$62.58+$1.52
Dec 13, 2006$61.34$61.89+$0.55
Dec 14, 2006$62.48$62.85+$0.37
Dec 15, 2006$63.40$62.91−$0.49
Dec 18, 2006$62.19$62.81+$0.62
Dec 19, 2006$62.87$62.19−$0.68
Dec 20, 2006$63.08$63.13+$0.05
Dec 21, 2006$62.05$62.13+$0.08
Dec 22, 2006$61.81$61.92+$0.11
Dec 26, 2006$61.07——
Dec 27, 2006$60.31$60.70+$0.39
Dec 28, 2006$60.39$59.41−$0.98
Dec 29, 2006$60.85$58.96−$1.89

“—” 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$/bblJan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006Dec 29, 2006
U.S. Energy Information AdministrationRBRTE — Brent spot price FOB$/bblJan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006Dec 29, 2006
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:2006 daily prices (CSV)