Oil Prices in January 2021: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI jumped in January 2021: the monthly average rose to $52.00, up $4.98 (10.6%) from December 2020. A year earlier, in January 2020, it averaged $57.52, so the price was lower by $5.52 (9.6%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, January 2021
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2021 | $52.16 | $55.25 |
| Jan 28, 2021 | $52.26 | $54.87 |
| Jan 27, 2021 | $52.81 | $55.07 |
| Jan 26, 2021 | $52.61 | $55.26 |
| Jan 25, 2021 | $52.78 | $55.44 |
| Jan 22, 2021 | $52.28 | $55.22 |
| Jan 21, 2021 | $53.00 | $55.68 |
| Jan 20, 2021 | $53.16 | $55.66 |
| Jan 19, 2021 | $52.87 | $55.38 |
| Jan 18, 2021 | — | $54.21 |
| Jan 15, 2021 | $52.25 | $54.80 |
| Jan 14, 2021 | $53.47 | $55.76 |
| Jan 13, 2021 | $52.81 | $55.52 |
| Jan 12, 2021 | $53.08 | $55.98 |
| Jan 11, 2021 | $52.15 | $54.84 |
| Jan 8, 2021 | $52.14 | $55.51 |
| Jan 7, 2021 | $50.63 | $53.70 |
| Jan 6, 2021 | $50.45 | $53.80 |
| Jan 5, 2021 | $49.78 | $53.16 |
| Jan 4, 2021 | $47.47 | $50.37 |
Prices rose over the month, from $47.47 on Jan 4, 2021 to $52.16 on Jan 29, 2021. The largest one-day move was +$2.31 on Jan 5, 2021 (+4.9%).
Brent averaged $54.77; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $2.80, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$2.26 to +$3.38.
It was the lowest monthly average of 2021. Adjusted with CPI-U, the January 2021 average equals $66.98 in September 2026 dollars.
January 2021 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $52.00 | $54.77 |
| Change vs December 2020 | +$4.98 | +$4.78 |
| Change vs January 2020 | −$5.52 | −$8.88 |
| Highest daily price | $53.47 Jan 14, 2021 | $55.98 Jan 12, 2021 |
| Lowest daily price | $47.47 Jan 4, 2021 | $50.37 Jan 4, 2021 |
| Published daily observations | 19 | 20 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $66.98 | $70.55 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for January 2021.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 4, 2021 – Jan 29, 2021 | Jan 29, 2021 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 4, 2021 – Jan 29, 2021 | Jan 29, 2021 |
| 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:2021 daily prices (CSV)