Oil Prices in December 2018: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI dropped in December 2018: the monthly average fell to $49.52, down $7.44 (13.1%) from November 2018, the lowest monthly average in nominal terms since August 2017. A year earlier, in December 2017, it averaged $57.88, so the price was lower by $8.36 (14.4%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, December 2018
Chart data table (18 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2018 | $45.15 | $50.57 |
| Dec 27, 2018 | $44.48 | $51.49 |
| Dec 26, 2018 | $46.04 | — |
| Dec 21, 2018 | $45.38 | $51.93 |
| Dec 20, 2018 | $45.64 | $52.84 |
| Dec 19, 2018 | $47.96 | $55.60 |
| Dec 18, 2018 | $46.12 | $55.26 |
| Dec 17, 2018 | $49.80 | $57.59 |
| Dec 14, 2018 | $51.26 | $58.56 |
| Dec 13, 2018 | $52.69 | $59.03 |
| Dec 12, 2018 | $51.04 | $59.94 |
| Dec 11, 2018 | $51.65 | $59.73 |
| Dec 10, 2018 | $51.07 | $60.29 |
| Dec 7, 2018 | $52.76 | $61.71 |
| Dec 6, 2018 | $51.54 | $57.83 |
| Dec 5, 2018 | $52.64 | $61.40 |
| Dec 4, 2018 | $53.21 | $61.22 |
| Dec 3, 2018 | $52.98 | $60.17 |
Prices fell over the month, from $52.98 on Dec 3, 2018 to $45.15 on Dec 28, 2018. The largest one-day move was −$3.68 on Dec 18, 2018 (−7.4%).
Brent averaged $57.36; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $7.63, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$5.42 to +$9.22.
It was the lowest monthly average of 2018. Adjusted with CPI-U, the December 2018 average equals $66.41 in September 2026 dollars.
December 2018 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $49.52 | $57.36 |
| Change vs November 2018 | −$7.44 | −$7.39 |
| Change vs December 2017 | −$8.36 | −$7.01 |
| Highest daily price | $53.21 Dec 4, 2018 | $61.71 Dec 7, 2018 |
| Lowest daily price | $44.48 Dec 27, 2018 | $50.57 Dec 28, 2018 |
| Published daily observations | 18 | 17 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $66.41 | $76.93 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 2018.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 3, 2018 – Dec 28, 2018 | Dec 28, 2018 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 3, 2018 – Dec 28, 2018 | Dec 28, 2018 |
| 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:2018 daily prices (CSV)