Oil Prices in December 2016: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI jumped in December 2016: the monthly average rose to $51.97, up $6.31 (13.8%) from November 2016, the highest monthly average in nominal terms since June 2015. The average was 40% above the $37.19 of December 2015.
Daily spot prices, December 2016
Chart data table (21 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2016 | $53.75 | $54.96 |
| Dec 29, 2016 | $53.80 | $54.95 |
| Dec 28, 2016 | $54.01 | $53.93 |
| Dec 27, 2016 | $52.82 | $53.93 |
| Dec 23, 2016 | $52.01 | $53.93 |
| Dec 22, 2016 | $51.98 | $54.04 |
| Dec 21, 2016 | $51.44 | $53.01 |
| Dec 20, 2016 | $52.22 | $54.56 |
| Dec 19, 2016 | $52.13 | $53.53 |
| Dec 16, 2016 | $51.93 | $54.15 |
| Dec 15, 2016 | $50.90 | $51.72 |
| Dec 14, 2016 | $51.01 | $53.15 |
| Dec 13, 2016 | $52.99 | $53.28 |
| Dec 12, 2016 | $52.74 | $53.99 |
| Dec 9, 2016 | $51.51 | $52.19 |
| Dec 8, 2016 | $50.84 | $51.60 |
| Dec 7, 2016 | $49.85 | $51.90 |
| Dec 6, 2016 | $50.95 | $52.31 |
| Dec 5, 2016 | $51.72 | $53.30 |
| Dec 2, 2016 | $51.70 | $52.35 |
| Dec 1, 2016 | $51.08 | $52.28 |
Prices rose over the month, from $51.08 on Dec 1, 2016 to $53.75 on Dec 30, 2016, with gains on 14 of 21 trading days.
Brent averaged $53.31; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $1.32, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from −$0.08 to +$2.34.
It was the highest monthly average of 2016. Adjusted with CPI-U, the December 2016 average equals $72.53 in September 2026 dollars.
December 2016 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $51.97 | $53.31 |
| Change vs November 2016 | +$6.31 | +$8.58 |
| Change vs December 2015 | +$14.78 | +$15.30 |
| Highest daily price | $54.01 Dec 28, 2016 | $54.96 Dec 30, 2016 |
| Lowest daily price | $49.85 Dec 7, 2016 | $51.60 Dec 8, 2016 |
| Published daily observations | 21 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $72.53 | $74.40 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 2016.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2016 – Dec 30, 2016 | Dec 30, 2016 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2016 – Dec 30, 2016 | Dec 30, 2016 |
| 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:2016 daily prices (CSV)