Oil Prices in May 2018: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
At $69.98 per barrel, May 2018's WTI average was the highest monthly average in nominal terms since November 2014, up $3.73 (5.6%) from April 2018. The average was 44% above the $48.48 of May 2017.
Daily spot prices, May 2018
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2018 | $66.98 | $76.45 |
| May 30, 2018 | $68.24 | $75.89 |
| May 29, 2018 | $66.80 | $74.51 |
| May 25, 2018 | $67.92 | $76.60 |
| May 24, 2018 | $70.77 | $78.90 |
| May 23, 2018 | $71.85 | $78.69 |
| May 22, 2018 | $72.09 | $80.42 |
| May 21, 2018 | $72.26 | $78.34 |
| May 18, 2018 | $71.23 | $78.38 |
| May 17, 2018 | $71.47 | $80.09 |
| May 16, 2018 | $71.43 | $78.19 |
| May 15, 2018 | $71.34 | $78.94 |
| May 14, 2018 | $71.01 | $78.17 |
| May 11, 2018 | $70.69 | $77.37 |
| May 10, 2018 | $71.36 | $77.59 |
| May 9, 2018 | $71.16 | $77.60 |
| May 8, 2018 | $68.83 | $74.16 |
| May 7, 2018 | $70.74 | $74.75 |
| May 4, 2018 | $69.71 | $74.75 |
| May 3, 2018 | $68.45 | $73.45 |
| May 2, 2018 | $67.91 | $73.14 |
| May 1, 2018 | $67.28 | $74.85 |
Prices peaked at $72.26 on May 21, 2018, then fell to $66.80 on May 29, 2018 and ended at $66.98. The largest one-day move was −$2.85 on May 25, 2018 (−4.0%).
Brent averaged $76.98; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $6.90, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$4.01 to +$9.47.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2018 average equals $93.72 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2018 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $69.98 | $76.98 |
| Change vs April 2018 | +$3.73 | +$4.87 |
| Change vs May 2017 | +$21.50 | +$26.65 |
| Highest daily price | $72.26 May 21, 2018 | $80.42 May 22, 2018 |
| Lowest daily price | $66.80 May 29, 2018 | $73.14 May 2, 2018 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 22 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $93.72 | $103.10 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2018.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2018 – May 31, 2018 | May 31, 2018 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2018 – May 31, 2018 | May 31, 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)