Oil Prices in May 2022: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
At $109.55 per barrel, May 2022's WTI average was the highest monthly average in nominal terms since August 2008, up $7.77 (7.6%) from April 2022. The average was 68% above the $65.17 of May 2021.
Daily spot prices, May 2022
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2022 | $114.38 | $125.53 |
| May 30, 2022 | — | $123.01 |
| May 27, 2022 | $114.96 | $121.19 |
| May 26, 2022 | $116.19 | $119.81 |
| May 25, 2022 | $112.88 | $116.41 |
| May 24, 2022 | $112.55 | $115.77 |
| May 23, 2022 | $110.32 | $115.13 |
| May 20, 2022 | $112.63 | $113.63 |
| May 19, 2022 | $112.21 | $113.22 |
| May 18, 2022 | $109.67 | $110.04 |
| May 17, 2022 | $112.31 | $112.89 |
| May 16, 2022 | $114.07 | $114.86 |
| May 13, 2022 | $110.52 | $112.12 |
| May 12, 2022 | $106.15 | $108.06 |
| May 11, 2022 | $105.50 | $107.70 |
| May 10, 2022 | $99.74 | $102.61 |
| May 9, 2022 | $103.08 | $106.67 |
| May 6, 2022 | $109.72 | $113.86 |
| May 5, 2022 | $108.17 | $112.11 |
| May 4, 2022 | $107.84 | $110.53 |
| May 3, 2022 | $102.53 | $104.94 |
| May 2, 2022 | $105.18 | — |
Prices rose over the month, from $105.18 on May 2, 2022 to $114.38 on May 31, 2022, with gains on 13 of 21 trading days. The largest one-day move was −$6.64 on May 9, 2022 (−6.1%).
Brent averaged $113.34; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $3.08, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$0.37 to +$11.15.
It was the second-highest monthly average of 2022. Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2022 average equals $126.28 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2022 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $109.55 | $113.34 |
| Change vs April 2022 | +$7.77 | +$8.76 |
| Change vs May 2021 | +$44.38 | +$44.81 |
| Highest daily price | $116.19 May 26, 2022 | $125.53 May 31, 2022 |
| Lowest daily price | $99.74 May 10, 2022 | $102.61 May 10, 2022 |
| Published daily observations | 21 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $126.28 | $130.65 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2022.
Part of the price episode: 2022 price spike
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 2, 2022 – May 31, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 3, 2022 – May 31, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
| 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:2022 daily prices (CSV)