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Oil Price (WTI) in 1986

The oil price (WTI) fell 29.9% in 1986, from $25.56 at the end of 1985 to $17.93. Its highest close was $26.53 on Jan 6 — a record that stood until August 6, 1990, and its lowest $10.25 on Mar 31. The biggest one-day fall was −16.8% on Jul 22 and the biggest rise +21.1% on Aug 4.

Change in 1986
−29.9%
$25.56 → $17.93
High
$26.53
Jan 6
Low
$10.25
Mar 31
Up days
124 of 251
longest run 5 up, 7 down
Below record
-32.4%
at the end of 1986

Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 1986

Numbers mark the events below
$12$18$25JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 21: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $26.53 (January 6, 1986).2Mar 31: Bear market low: $10.25, 61.4% below the peak.3Apr 16: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $14.39 (April 7, 1986). Bear market low: $11.50, 20.1% below the peak.4May 2: Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $14.39 (April 7, 1986).5Jun 3: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $17.13 (May 19, 1986).6Jul 22: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −16.8%.7Jul 23: Bear market low: $10.83, 36.8% below the peak.8Aug 4: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +21.1%.9Dec 24: Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $17.13 (May 19, 1986).

Key Events in 1986

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

  1. 1
    Tuesday, January 21 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $26.53 (January 6, 1986).
  2. 2
    Monday, March 31 From the data
    Bear market low: $10.25, 61.4% below the peak.
  3. 3
    Wednesday, April 16 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $14.39 (April 7, 1986). Bear market low: $11.50, 20.1% below the peak.
  4. 4
    Friday, May 2 From the data
    Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $14.39 (April 7, 1986).
  5. 5
    Tuesday, June 3 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $17.13 (May 19, 1986).
  6. 6
    Tuesday, July 22 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −16.8%.
  7. 7
    Wednesday, July 23 From the data
    Bear market low: $10.83, 36.8% below the peak.
  8. 8
    Monday, August 4 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +21.1%.
  9. 9
    Wednesday, December 24 From the data
    Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $17.13 (May 19, 1986).

Biggest days of 1986

Best daysWorst days
Aug 4+21.1%Jul 22−16.8%
Apr 7+12.9%Mar 24−12.5%
Oct 30+9.8%May 27−10.9%
Mar 21+9.4%Apr 8−10.8%
Jun 11+9.2%Feb 4−10.6%

Volatility: 67.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan$18.95−25.9%$26.53$18.95
Feb$13.23−30.2%$17.70$13.23
Mar$10.25−22.5%$14.05$10.25
Apr$13.38+30.5%$14.39$11.13
May$14.30+6.9%$17.13$13.80
Jun$12.80−10.5%$14.44$12.38
Jul$11.23−12.3%$13.07$10.83
Aug$15.93+41.9%$15.93$11.56
Sep$14.70−7.7%$16.43$13.80
Oct$15.25+3.7%$15.60$13.73
Nov$15.00−1.6%$15.68$14.70
Dec$17.93+19.5%$17.93$14.93

Other Markets in 1986

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Oil Price (WTI)−29.9%$17.93
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1986+22.6%1,895.95
S&P 500 in 1986+14.6%242.17
Nasdaq Composite in 1986+7.4%348.80
Nikkei 225 in 1986+43.9%18,821.00
Gold in 1986+19.0%$388.75
Silver in 1986−8.9%$5.28
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1986−1.77 pp7.23%
1986198719881989

Oil Price (WTI) in 1986: FAQ

How much did the oil price (WTI) fall in 1986?

The oil price (WTI) fell 29.9% in 1986, from $25.56 at the end of 1985 to $17.93. Its highest close was $26.53 on Jan 6 — a record that stood until August 6, 1990, and its lowest $10.25 on Mar 31. The biggest one-day fall was −16.8% on Jul 22 and the biggest rise +21.1% on Aug 4.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 1986?

Highest: $26.53 on January 6, 1986. Lowest: $10.25 on March 31, 1986. It closed higher on 124 of 251 trading days.

Data: WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that. 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.