Dow Jones in 1981

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 9.2% in 1981, from 963.99 at the end of 1980 to 875.00. Its highest close was 1,024.05 on Apr 27, and its lowest 824.01 on Sep 25. The biggest one-day fall was −2.4% on Jan 7 and the biggest rise +2.4% on Oct 30. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 16.7%.

Change in 1981

−9.2%

963.99 → 875.00

High

1,024.05

Apr 27

Low

824.01

Sep 25

After inflation

−16.7%

US CPI

Up days

118 of 253

longest run 7 up, 8 down

Below record

-16.8%

at the end of 1981

Dow Jones, daily closes 1981

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1981

What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Wednesday, January 7 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.4%.
2
Tuesday, January 20

Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. Source

Dow Jones: −2.1% that day · −2.5% a month later
3
Wednesday, March 25 From the data

Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 1,014.79 (September 21, 1976).
4
Monday, March 30

President Reagan is shot in Washington; the NYSE closes early. Source

Dow Jones: −0.3% that day · +2.2% a month later
5
Thursday, August 13

Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act, cutting the top income tax rate from 70% to 50%. Source

Dow Jones: −0.1% that day · −7.7% a month later
6
Friday, October 30 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.4%.

Biggest days of 1981

Best days		Worst days
Oct 30	+2.4%	Jan 7	−2.4%
Mar 12	+2.3%	Aug 24	−2.2%
Sep 28	+2.3%	Jan 20	−2.1%
Nov 24	+2.2%	Sep 3	−1.9%
Jan 5	+2.0%	Jul 20	−1.9%

Volatility: 13.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	947.27	−1.7%	1,004.69	938.91
Feb	974.58	+2.9%	974.58	931.57
Mar	1,003.87	+3.0%	1,015.22	964.62
Apr	997.75	−0.6%	1,024.05	989.10
May	991.75	−0.6%	995.59	963.44
Jun	976.88	−1.5%	1,011.99	976.88
Jul	952.34	−2.5%	967.66	924.66
Aug	881.47	−7.4%	953.58	881.47
Sep	849.98	−3.6%	884.23	824.01
Oct	852.55	+0.3%	878.14	830.96
Nov	888.98	+4.3%	888.98	844.08
Dec	875.00	−1.6%	892.69	868.25

Other Markets in 1981

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	−9.2%	875.00
S&P 500 in 1981	−9.7%	122.55
Nasdaq Composite in 1981	−3.2%	195.84
Gold in 1981	−32.6%	$397.50
Silver in 1981	−47.4%	$8.15
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1981	+1.55 pp	13.98%

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Dow Jones in 1981: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1981?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1981?

Highest: 1,024.05 on April 27, 1981. Lowest: 824.01 on September 25, 1981. It closed higher on 118 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on January 20, 1981?

Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.1% that day, and was −2.5% a month later.

Data: Daily closes since 26 May 1896. Saturday sessions were held until 1952. The NYSE was closed from 31 Jul to 11 Dec 1914. Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.