Oil Prices in May 2017: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $48.48 per barrel in May 2017, down $2.58 (5.1%) from April 2017. A year earlier, in May 2016, it averaged $46.71, so the price was higher by $1.77 (3.8%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, May 2017
Chart data table (23 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2017 | $48.29 | $49.40 |
| May 30, 2017 | $49.63 | $50.65 |
| May 29, 2017 | — | $52.25 |
| May 26, 2017 | $49.58 | $50.84 |
| May 25, 2017 | $48.57 | $52.25 |
| May 24, 2017 | $50.99 | $53.29 |
| May 23, 2017 | $51.12 | $53.19 |
| May 22, 2017 | $50.81 | $53.35 |
| May 19, 2017 | $50.32 | $52.78 |
| May 18, 2017 | $49.36 | $51.71 |
| May 17, 2017 | $49.04 | $51.76 |
| May 16, 2017 | $48.64 | $51.21 |
| May 15, 2017 | $48.86 | $51.29 |
| May 12, 2017 | $47.83 | $49.08 |
| May 11, 2017 | $47.81 | $49.18 |
| May 10, 2017 | $47.28 | $48.09 |
| May 9, 2017 | $45.84 | $47.06 |
| May 8, 2017 | $46.46 | $46.61 |
| May 5, 2017 | $46.23 | $47.45 |
| May 4, 2017 | $45.55 | $47.53 |
| May 3, 2017 | $47.79 | $48.82 |
| May 2, 2017 | $47.65 | $49.31 |
| May 1, 2017 | $48.83 | $50.41 |
Prices dipped to $45.55 on May 4, 2017, then climbed to $51.12 on May 23, 2017 and ended at $48.29. The largest one-day move was −$2.42 on May 25, 2017 (−4.7%).
Brent averaged $50.33; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $1.76, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$0.15 to +$3.68.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2017 average equals $66.75 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2017 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $48.48 | $50.33 |
| Change vs April 2017 | −$2.58 | −$1.98 |
| Change vs May 2016 | +$1.77 | +$3.59 |
| Highest daily price | $51.12 May 23, 2017 | $53.35 May 22, 2017 |
| Lowest daily price | $45.55 May 4, 2017 | $46.61 May 8, 2017 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 23 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $66.75 | $69.29 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2017.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2017 – May 31, 2017 | May 31, 2017 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2017 – May 31, 2017 | May 31, 2017 |
| 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:2017 daily prices (CSV)