Oil Price (WTI) in 2001

The oil price (WTI) fell 25.3% in 2001, from $26.72 at the end of 2000 to $19.96. Its highest close was $32.21 on Jan 22, and its lowest $17.50 on Nov 15. The biggest one-day fall was −15.7% on Sep 24 and the biggest rise +10.6% on Aug 24. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 26.4%.

Change in 2001

−25.3%

$26.72 → $19.96

High

$32.21

Jan 22

Low

$17.50

Nov 15

After inflation

−26.4%

US CPI

Up days

118 of 250

longest run 6 up, 8 down

Below record

-51.4%

at the end of 2001

Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 2001

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2001

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

1
Monday, April 2 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $32.21 (January 22, 2001).
2
Wednesday, July 18 From the data

Bear market low: $24.65, 23.5% below the peak.
3
Friday, August 24 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +10.6%.
4
Tuesday, September 11

Terrorist attacks hit New York and Washington; US stock exchanges close. Source

WTI oil: 0.0% that day · −18.5% a month later
5
Monday, September 24 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $29.59 (September 14, 2001). Biggest one-day fall of the year: −15.7%.
6
Thursday, November 15 From the data

Bear market low: $17.50, 40.9% below the peak.
7
Tuesday, December 11

China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. Source

WTI oil: −1.5% that day · +7.4% a month later

Biggest days of 2001

Best days		Worst days
Aug 24	+10.6%	Sep 24	−15.7%
Dec 26	+10.5%	Nov 15	−10.9%
Apr 26	+9.8%	Nov 14	−9.0%
Jan 10	+6.1%	Apr 24	−6.4%
Dec 14	+6.1%	Aug 27	−5.8%

Volatility: 46.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	$28.62	+7.1%	$32.21	$27.29
Feb	$27.35	−4.4%	$31.57	$27.35
Mar	$26.37	−3.6%	$28.95	$25.99
Apr	$28.48	+8.0%	$28.81	$25.24
May	$28.39	−0.3%	$29.96	$27.35
Jun	$26.37	−7.1%	$29.13	$25.67
Jul	$26.70	+1.3%	$28.10	$24.65
Aug	$26.65	−0.2%	$28.34	$25.63
Sep	$23.44	−12.0%	$29.59	$21.46
Oct	$21.20	−9.6%	$23.49	$21.20
Nov	$19.46	−8.2%	$22.23	$17.50
Dec	$19.96	+2.6%	$21.32	$18.04

Other Markets in 2001

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Oil Price (WTI)	−25.3%	$19.96
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2001	−7.1%	10,021.50
S&P 500 in 2001	−13.0%	1,148.08
Nasdaq Composite in 2001	−21.1%	1,950.40
Russell 2000 in 2001	+1.0%	488.50
Nikkei 225 in 2001	−23.5%	10,542.62
Gold in 2001	+0.7%	$276.50
Silver in 2001	−1.3%	$4.52
Brent crude oil in 2001	−14.3%	$19.35
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2001	−0.05 pp	5.07%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Oil Price (WTI) in 2001: FAQ

How much did the oil price (WTI) fall in 2001?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 2001?

Highest: $32.21 on January 22, 2001. Lowest: $17.50 on November 15, 2001. It closed higher on 118 of 250 trading days.

What happened to the oil price (WTI) on December 11, 2001?

China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. The oil price (WTI) fell 1.5% that day, and was +7.4% a month later.

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.