WTI crude oil History Since 1986
WTI crude oil closed at $103.66 on October 19, 2026. Its all-time high close was $145.31 on July 3, 2008 (28.7% below). Since January 2, 1986 it has risen from $25.56, about 3.5% a year. Its biggest one-day fall was 45.2% on April 21, 2020.
Daily data to October 19, 2026 · USD per barrel
Latest close
$103.66
October 19, 2026
All-time high close
$145.31
July 3, 2008 · -28.7% from it
Starting value
$25.56
January 2, 1986
Average yearly change
+3.5%
compound, since 1986
WTI crude oil chart
Loading chart…
Daily closes (monthly for the Shiller series and CAPE). Index values exclude dividends. Dotted lines mark famous market moments.
Price on a date
Any date since January 2, 1986. Weekends and holidays show the previous close.
Biggest one-day moves
| Falls | |
|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2020 | −45.2% |
| Jan 17, 1991 | −33.4% |
| Mar 9, 2020 | −24.6% |
| Apr 27, 2020 | −24.6% |
| Mar 18, 2020 | −24.4% |
| Jul 22, 1986 | −16.8% |
| Apr 8, 2026 | −16.4% |
| Oct 22, 1990 | −15.8% |
| Sep 24, 2001 | −15.7% |
| Mar 26, 2003 | −14.1% |
| Gains | |
|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2020 | +37.7% |
| Apr 30, 2020 | +25.1% |
| Apr 2, 2020 | +24.7% |
| Mar 19, 2020 | +23.8% |
| Apr 29, 2020 | +22.0% |
| Aug 4, 1986 | +21.1% |
| Aug 6, 1990 | +20.8% |
| May 5, 2020 | +20.5% |
| Apr 23, 2020 | +19.7% |
| Sep 22, 2008 | +17.8% |
Close-to-close changes between consecutive trading days (moves across long market closures are left out).
Major Declines (Falls of 20% or More)
The usual definition: a fall of at least 20% from a closing high, ending at the lowest close before a 20% rebound. Prices only — not adjusted for dividends or inflation.
| Fall | Peak | Trough | Length | Back to the old high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −36.9% | May 18, 2026 $108.66 | Jul 6, 2026 $68.55 | 2 mo | not yet |
| −25.8% | Apr 7, 2026 $112.95 | Apr 17, 2026 $83.85 | 1 mo | not yet |
| −26.4% | Jun 18, 2025 $75.14 | Dec 16, 2025 $55.27 | 6 mo | Mar 2026 (0.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −28.6% | Jan 15, 2025 $80.04 | May 5, 2025 $57.13 | 4 mo | Mar 2026 (1.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −24.3% | Apr 5, 2024 $86.91 | Sep 10, 2024 $65.75 | 5 mo | Mar 2026 (1.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −26.8% | Sep 27, 2023 $93.68 | Dec 12, 2023 $68.61 | 2 mo | Mar 2026 (2.4 yrs after the peak) |
| −28.0% | Oct 7, 2022 $92.64 | Mar 17, 2023 $66.74 | 5 mo | Sep 2023 (1.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −37.2% | Jun 8, 2022 $122.11 | Sep 26, 2022 $76.71 | 4 mo | not yet |
| −23.2% | Mar 8, 2022 $123.70 | Mar 16, 2022 $95.04 | 1 mo | not yet |
| −22.5% | Oct 26, 2021 $84.65 | Dec 1, 2021 $65.57 | 1 mo | Jan 2022 (0.2 yrs after the peak) |
| −27.2% | Apr 24, 2020 $16.94 | Apr 28, 2020 $12.34 | 1 mo | Apr 2020 (0.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −64.7% | Apr 3, 2020 $28.34 | Apr 21, 2020 $10.01 | 1 mo | May 2020 (0.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −20.3% | Mar 19, 2020 $25.22 | Mar 30, 2020 $20.09 | 1 mo | Apr 2020 (0.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −67.8% | Jan 6, 2020 $63.27 | Mar 18, 2020 $20.37 | 2 mo | Feb 2021 (1.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −22.9% | Apr 23, 2019 $66.30 | Aug 7, 2019 $51.09 | 3 mo | May 2021 (2.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −44.3% | Oct 3, 2018 $76.41 | Dec 24, 2018 $42.53 | 3 mo | Oct 2021 (3.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −21.9% | Feb 23, 2017 $54.45 | Jun 21, 2017 $42.53 | 4 mo | Nov 2017 (0.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −22.9% | Jun 8, 2016 $51.23 | Aug 2, 2016 $39.51 | 2 mo | Oct 2016 (0.4 yrs after the peak) |
| −22.0% | Jan 29, 2016 $33.62 | Feb 11, 2016 $26.21 | 1 mo | Feb 2016 (0.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −46.5% | Oct 9, 2015 $49.63 | Jan 20, 2016 $26.55 | 3 mo | Jun 2016 (0.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −37.8% | Jun 10, 2015 $61.43 | Aug 24, 2015 $38.24 | 2 mo | Jan 2018 (2.6 yrs after the peak) |
| −60.2% | Sep 6, 2013 $110.62 | Jan 28, 2015 $44.08 | 1.4 yrs | Mar 2022 (8.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −29.0% | Feb 24, 2012 $109.39 | Jun 28, 2012 $77.72 | 4 mo | Aug 2013 (1.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −33.5% | Apr 29, 2011 $113.39 | Oct 4, 2011 $75.40 | 5 mo | Mar 2022 (10.8 yrs after the peak) |
| −25.1% | Apr 6, 2010 $86.54 | May 25, 2010 $64.78 | 2 mo | Nov 2010 (0.6 yrs after the peak) |
| −26.8% | Jan 26, 2009 $46.50 | Feb 12, 2009 $34.03 | 1 mo | Mar 2009 (0.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −27.2% | Jan 5, 2009 $48.61 | Jan 16, 2009 $35.38 | 1 mo | Mar 2009 (0.2 yrs after the peak) |
| −75.3% | Sep 22, 2008 $122.61 | Dec 23, 2008 $30.28 | 3 mo | Mar 2022 (13.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −37.0% | Jul 3, 2008 $145.31 | Sep 16, 2008 $91.49 | 2 mo | not yet |
| −34.4% | Aug 7, 2006 $77.05 | Jan 18, 2007 $50.51 | 5 mo | Jul 2007 (1.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −27.8% | Oct 26, 2004 $56.37 | Dec 10, 2004 $40.71 | 1 mo | Mar 2005 (0.4 yrs after the peak) |
| −24.4% | Mar 25, 2003 $33.42 | Apr 28, 2003 $25.25 | 1 mo | Dec 2003 (0.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −28.4% | Feb 26, 2003 $37.96 | Mar 21, 2003 $27.18 | 1 mo | Mar 2004 (1.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −40.9% | Sep 14, 2001 $29.59 | Nov 15, 2001 $17.50 | 2 mo | Aug 2002 (0.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −23.5% | Jan 22, 2001 $32.21 | Jul 18, 2001 $24.65 | 6 mo | Dec 2002 (1.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −30.6% | Sep 20, 2000 $37.22 | Dec 28, 2000 $25.82 | 3 mo | Feb 2003 (2.4 yrs after the peak) |
| −20.9% | Jun 23, 2000 $34.76 | Jul 31, 2000 $27.50 | 1 mo | Sep 2000 (0.2 yrs after the peak) |
| −29.5% | Mar 7, 2000 $33.90 | Apr 10, 2000 $23.91 | 1 mo | Jun 2000 (0.3 yrs after the peak) |
| −33.2% | Sep 30, 1998 $16.19 | Dec 10, 1998 $10.82 | 2 mo | Mar 1999 (0.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −28.1% | May 1, 1998 $16.25 | Jun 15, 1998 $11.69 | 1 mo | Mar 1999 (0.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −22.6% | Mar 26, 1998 $16.92 | Apr 23, 1998 $13.09 | 1 mo | Apr 1999 (1.0 yrs after the peak) |
| −41.3% | Oct 3, 1997 $22.86 | Mar 16, 1998 $13.41 | 5 mo | Sep 1999 (1.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −29.9% | Dec 19, 1996 $26.55 | Jun 20, 1997 $18.60 | 6 mo | Nov 1999 (2.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −21.6% | Apr 11, 1996 $25.15 | Jun 5, 1996 $19.73 | 2 mo | Oct 1996 (0.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −39.7% | Jun 24, 1992 $23.03 | Feb 16, 1994 $13.89 | 1.6 yrs | Mar 1996 (3.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −25.8% | Oct 18, 1991 $24.12 | Jan 9, 1992 $17.89 | 3 mo | Mar 1996 (4.4 yrs after the peak) |
| −32.0% | Jan 24, 1991 $25.63 | Feb 22, 1991 $17.43 | 1 mo | Oct 1996 (5.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −37.8% | Jan 16, 1991 $32.25 | Jan 18, 1991 $20.05 | 1 mo | Mar 2000 (9.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −30.1% | Nov 8, 1990 $35.61 | Jan 4, 1991 $24.88 | 2 mo | Sep 2000 (9.9 yrs after the peak) |
| −30.7% | Oct 11, 1990 $41.07 | Oct 22, 1990 $28.46 | 1 mo | May 2004 (13.6 yrs after the peak) |
| −37.0% | Jan 25, 1990 $24.48 | Jun 20, 1990 $15.43 | 5 mo | Aug 1990 (0.5 yrs after the peak) |
| −27.3% | Apr 20, 1989 $24.62 | Aug 1, 1989 $17.91 | 3 mo | Aug 1990 (1.3 yrs after the peak) |
| −32.1% | Apr 26, 1988 $18.54 | Oct 5, 1988 $12.58 | 5 mo | Jan 1989 (0.7 yrs after the peak) |
| −32.6% | Jul 16, 1987 $22.44 | Dec 21, 1987 $15.12 | 5 mo | Apr 1989 (1.8 yrs after the peak) |
| −36.8% | May 19, 1986 $17.13 | Jul 23, 1986 $10.83 | 2 mo | Dec 1986 (0.6 yrs after the peak) |
| −20.1% | Apr 7, 1986 $14.39 | Apr 16, 1986 $11.50 | 1 mo | May 1986 (0.1 yrs after the peak) |
| −61.4% | Jan 6, 1986 $26.53 | Mar 31, 1986 $10.25 | 3 mo | Aug 1990 (4.6 yrs after the peak) |
Decade by decade
| Decade | Change | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | −23% | −2.6% |
| 2000s | +208% | +11.9% |
| 1990s | +18% | +1.7% |
End of the previous decade to the end of the decade.
Best and worst years
| Best | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | +112.2% |
| 2009 | +78.0% |
| 2007 | +57.7% |
| 2002 | +56.4% |
| 2021 | +55.0% |
| Worst | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | −53.5% |
| 2014 | −45.6% |
| 1991 | −32.8% |
| 1997 | −31.9% |
| 1998 | −31.2% |
Calendar-year change, year-end close to year-end close.
WTI crude oil by Year
Year-end close, change, and the year's highest and lowest close.
| Year | Close | Change | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | $103.66 | +80.5% | $112.95 Apr 7 | $55.99 Jan 7 |
| 2025 | $57.42 | −19.9% | $80.04 Jan 15 | $55.27 Dec 16 |
| 2024 | $71.72 | +0.1% | $86.91 Apr 5 | $65.75 Sep 10 |
| 2023 | $71.65 | −10.7% | $93.68 Sep 27 | $66.74 Mar 17 |
| 2022 | $80.26 | +6.7% | $123.70 Mar 8 | $71.02 Dec 9 |
| 2021 | $75.21 | +55.0% | $84.65 Oct 26 | $47.62 Jan 4 |
| 2020 | $48.52 | −20.5% | $63.27 Jan 6 | $10.01 Apr 21 |
| 2019 | $61.06 | +34.5% | $66.30 Apr 23 | $46.54 Jan 2 |
| 2018 | $45.41 | −24.8% | $76.41 Oct 3 | $42.53 Dec 24 |
| 2017 | $60.42 | +12.5% | $60.42 Dec 29 | $42.53 Jun 21 |
| 2016 | $53.72 | +45.0% | $54.06 Dec 28 | $26.21 Feb 11 |
| 2015 | $37.04 | −30.7% | $61.43 Jun 10 | $34.73 Dec 18 |
| 2014 | $53.45 | −45.6% | $107.95 Jun 20 | $53.45 Dec 31 |
| 2013 | $98.17 | +6.9% | $110.62 Sep 6 | $86.65 Apr 17 |
| 2012 | $91.83 | −7.1% | $109.39 Feb 24 | $77.72 Jun 28 |
| 2011 | $98.83 | +8.2% | $113.39 Apr 29 | $75.40 Oct 4 |
| 2010 | $91.38 | +15.1% | $91.48 Dec 28 | $64.78 May 25 |
| 2009 | $79.39 | +78.0% | $81.03 Oct 21 | $34.03 Feb 12 |
| 2008 | $44.60 | −53.5% | $145.31 Jul 3 | $30.28 Dec 23 |
| 2007 | $95.95 | +57.7% | $99.16 Nov 20 | $50.51 Jan 18 |
| 2006 | $60.85 | −0.3% | $77.05 Aug 7 | $55.90 Nov 17 |
| 2005 | $61.06 | +40.8% | $69.91 Aug 30 | $42.16 Jan 3 |
| 2004 | $43.36 | +33.4% | $56.37 Oct 26 | $32.49 Feb 6 |
| 2003 | $32.51 | +4.2% | $37.96 Feb 26 | $25.25 Apr 28 |
| 2002 | $31.21 | +56.4% | $32.68 Dec 27 | $18.02 Jan 18 |
| 2001 | $19.96 | −25.3% | $32.21 Jan 22 | $17.50 Nov 15 |
| 2000 | $26.72 | +3.7% | $37.22 Sep 20 | $23.91 Apr 10 |
| 1999 | $25.76 | +112.2% | $28.03 Nov 22 | $11.38 Feb 16 |
| 1998 | $12.14 | −31.2% | $17.93 Jan 29 | $10.82 Dec 10 |
| 1997 | $17.65 | −31.9% | $26.55 Jan 8 | $17.60 Dec 30 |
| 1996 | $25.90 | +32.5% | $26.55 Dec 19 | $17.33 Jan 29 |
| 1995 | $19.54 | +10.0% | $20.53 May 1 | $16.86 Oct 5 |
| 1994 | $17.77 | +25.2% | $20.72 Jun 17 | $13.89 Feb 16 |
| 1993 | $14.19 | −27.2% | $21.05 Mar 4 | $13.98 Dec 17 |
| 1992 | $19.49 | +1.8% | $23.03 Jun 24 | $17.89 Jan 9 |
| 1991 | $19.15 | −32.8% | $32.25 Jan 16 | $17.43 Feb 22 |
| 1990 | $28.48 | +30.4% | $41.07 Oct 11 | $15.43 Jun 20 |
| 1989 | $21.84 | +27.6% | $24.62 Apr 20 | $16.99 Jan 4 |
| 1988 | $17.12 | +2.3% | $18.54 Apr 26 | $12.58 Oct 5 |
| 1987 | $16.74 | −6.6% | $22.44 Jul 16 | $15.12 Dec 21 |
| 1986 | $17.93 | — | $26.53 Jan 6 | $10.25 Mar 31 |
WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that.
WTI crude oil History FAQ
What is the WTI crude oil all-time high?
The highest close in our data is $145.31 on July 3, 2008. The latest close is $103.66 (October 19, 2026).
What was the biggest one-day drop?
April 21, 2020, when it fell 45.2% to $10.01.
What was the worst bear market?
From September 22, 2008 to December 23, 2008 it fell 75.3%, from $122.61 to $30.28. It regained the old high on March 8, 2022, 13.5 years after the peak (prices only, not counting dividends or inflation).
Where does this data come from?
WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that. Later closes are added daily. Prices are for reference and may contain errors; check an official source before relying on a figure.
Historical prices are provided for information and may contain errors. Index values are the property of their publishers and are shown for reference only. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.