Oil Prices in May 2006: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
At $70.84 per barrel, May 2006's WTI average was the highest monthly average in nominal terms since EIA's records began in 1986, up $1.40 (2.0%) from April 2006. The average was 42% above the $49.83 of May 2005.
Daily spot prices, May 2006
Chart data table (23 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2006 | $71.42 | $67.57 |
| May 30, 2006 | $71.85 | $69.82 |
| May 29, 2006 | — | $69.16 |
| May 26, 2006 | $71.35 | $69.88 |
| May 25, 2006 | $70.92 | $68.51 |
| May 24, 2006 | $69.47 | $68.45 |
| May 23, 2006 | $70.78 | $68.97 |
| May 22, 2006 | $69.23 | $66.52 |
| May 19, 2006 | $68.44 | $66.93 |
| May 18, 2006 | $69.63 | $67.39 |
| May 17, 2006 | $68.65 | $67.52 |
| May 16, 2006 | $69.40 | $68.66 |
| May 15, 2006 | $69.25 | $68.69 |
| May 12, 2006 | $71.87 | $71.30 |
| May 11, 2006 | $73.00 | $72.20 |
| May 10, 2006 | $72.15 | $69.83 |
| May 9, 2006 | $70.71 | $70.60 |
| May 8, 2006 | $69.75 | $68.26 |
| May 5, 2006 | $70.09 | $71.22 |
| May 4, 2006 | $69.98 | $71.84 |
| May 3, 2006 | $72.26 | $73.73 |
| May 2, 2006 | $74.62 | $74.45 |
| May 1, 2006 | $73.75 | $73.37 |
Prices peaked at $74.62 on May 2, 2006, then fell to $68.44 on May 19, 2006 and ended at $71.42.
Brent traded below WTI on average this month: $69.78 for the month, $1.04 under WTI across 22 matched dates.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2006 average equals $117.87 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2006 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $70.84 | $69.78 |
| Change vs April 2006 | +$1.40 | −$0.48 |
| Change vs May 2005 | +$21.01 | +$21.13 |
| Highest daily price | $74.62 May 2, 2006 | $74.45 May 2, 2006 |
| Lowest daily price | $68.44 May 19, 2006 | $66.52 May 22, 2006 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 23 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $117.87 | $116.11 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2006.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2006 – May 31, 2006 | May 31, 2006 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2006 – May 31, 2006 | May 31, 2006 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly | September 2026 |
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)