Oil Prices in May 2016: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI jumped in May 2016: the monthly average rose to $46.71, up $5.96 (14.6%) from April 2016. A year earlier, in May 2015, it averaged $59.27, so the price was lower by $12.56 (21.2%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, May 2016
Chart data table (21 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2016 | $49.10 | $49.26 |
| May 27, 2016 | $49.36 | $49.09 |
| May 26, 2016 | $49.00 | $49.52 |
| May 25, 2016 | $49.10 | $48.87 |
| May 24, 2016 | $48.04 | $48.42 |
| May 23, 2016 | $48.12 | $47.77 |
| May 20, 2016 | $47.67 | $48.54 |
| May 19, 2016 | $48.16 | $47.01 |
| May 18, 2016 | $48.12 | $48.93 |
| May 17, 2016 | $48.29 | $48.71 |
| May 16, 2016 | $47.72 | $48.49 |
| May 13, 2016 | $46.22 | $47.05 |
| May 12, 2016 | $46.64 | $46.43 |
| May 11, 2016 | $46.21 | $46.08 |
| May 10, 2016 | $44.68 | $44.01 |
| May 9, 2016 | $43.45 | $42.43 |
| May 6, 2016 | $44.58 | $44.60 |
| May 5, 2016 | $44.33 | $44.39 |
| May 4, 2016 | $43.77 | $43.08 |
| May 3, 2016 | $43.65 | $43.09 |
| May 2, 2016 | $44.75 | $45.82 |
Prices rose over the month, from $44.75 on May 2, 2016 to $49.10 on May 31, 2016.
Brent averaged $46.74, within a dollar of WTI on average across the 21 dates when both were published.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2016 average equals $65.51 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2016 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $46.71 | $46.74 |
| Change vs April 2016 | +$5.96 | +$5.16 |
| Change vs May 2015 | −$12.56 | −$17.34 |
| Highest daily price | $49.36 May 27, 2016 | $49.52 May 26, 2016 |
| Lowest daily price | $43.45 May 9, 2016 | $42.43 May 9, 2016 |
| Published daily observations | 21 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $65.51 | $65.56 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2016.
Part of the price episode: 2014–16 price decline
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 2, 2016 – May 31, 2016 | May 31, 2016 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 2, 2016 – May 31, 2016 | May 31, 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)