Oil Prices in January 2012: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $100.27 per barrel in January 2012, up $1.71 (1.7%) from December 2011. A year earlier, in January 2011, it averaged $89.17, so the price was higher by $11.10 (12.4%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, January 2012
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 31, 2012 | $98.46 | $110.26 |
| Jan 30, 2012 | $98.75 | $110.24 |
| Jan 27, 2012 | $99.47 | $110.50 |
| Jan 26, 2012 | $99.76 | $109.08 |
| Jan 25, 2012 | $99.23 | $108.48 |
| Jan 24, 2012 | $98.84 | $108.38 |
| Jan 23, 2012 | $99.47 | $109.46 |
| Jan 20, 2012 | $98.15 | $108.50 |
| Jan 19, 2012 | $100.32 | $109.54 |
| Jan 18, 2012 | $100.61 | $109.81 |
| Jan 17, 2012 | $100.70 | $110.55 |
| Jan 13, 2012 | $98.69 | $109.88 |
| Jan 12, 2012 | $99.03 | $112.97 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | $100.89 | $111.66 |
| Jan 10, 2012 | $102.24 | $113.30 |
| Jan 9, 2012 | $101.31 | $111.07 |
| Jan 6, 2012 | $101.56 | $111.96 |
| Jan 5, 2012 | $101.81 | $113.59 |
| Jan 4, 2012 | $103.22 | $113.37 |
| Jan 3, 2012 | $102.96 | $111.12 |
Prices peaked at $103.22 on Jan 4, 2012, then fell to $98.15 on Jan 20, 2012 and ended at $98.46. The largest one-day move was +$4.13 on Jan 3, 2012 (+4.2%).
Brent averaged $110.69; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $10.41, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$8.16 to +$13.94.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the January 2012 average equals $149.05 in September 2026 dollars.
January 2012 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $100.27 | $110.69 |
| Change vs December 2011 | +$1.71 | +$2.82 |
| Change vs January 2011 | +$11.10 | +$14.17 |
| Highest daily price | $103.22 Jan 4, 2012 | $113.59 Jan 5, 2012 |
| Lowest daily price | $98.15 Jan 20, 2012 | $108.38 Jan 24, 2012 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 20 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $149.05 | $164.54 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for January 2012.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 3, 2012 – Jan 31, 2012 | Jan 31, 2012 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 3, 2012 – Jan 31, 2012 | Jan 31, 2012 |
| 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:2012 daily prices (CSV)