10-Year Treasury Yield in 1979

The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.18 percentage points in 1979, from 9.15% at the end of 1978 to 10.33%. Its highest close was 11.02% on Oct 23, and its lowest 8.76% on Jul 2.

Change in 1979

+1.18 pp

9.15% → 10.33%

High

11.02%

Oct 23

Low

8.76%

Jul 2

Up days

113 of 248

longest run 6 up, 6 down

Record highs

closing records

10-Year Treasury Yield, daily closes 1979

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1979

What happened, and how the 10Y yield moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Tuesday, January 2 From the data

sets the first of 22 record closing highs this year, at 9.18%.
2
Tuesday, January 16

The Shah leaves Iran during the Iranian Revolution. Source

10Y yield: +0.01 pp that day · −0.03 pp a month later
3
Monday, August 6

Paul Volcker takes office as Federal Reserve chairman. Source

10Y yield: −0.01 pp that day · +0.40 pp a month later
4
Saturday, October 6

Volcker announces the Fed will target bank reserves instead of the federal funds rate. Source

10Y yield: +0.33 pp next trading day (Oct 9) · +1.40 pp a month later
5
Tuesday, October 23 From the data

Last record close of the year: 11.02%.
6
Sunday, November 4

Students seize the US Embassy in Tehran, starting the Iran hostage crisis. Source

10Y yield: +0.01 pp next trading day (Nov 5) · −0.71 pp a month later
7
Tuesday, December 25

Soviet forces begin the invasion of Afghanistan. Source

10Y yield: +0.03 pp next trading day (Dec 26) · +0.56 pp a month later

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	8.95%	−0.20 pp	9.18%	8.93%
Feb	9.17%	+0.22 pp	9.21%	8.89%
Mar	9.11%	−0.06 pp	9.17%	9.06%
Apr	9.35%	+0.24 pp	9.35%	9.07%
May	9.06%	−0.29 pp	9.39%	9.01%
Jun	8.81%	−0.25 pp	9.06%	8.79%
Jul	9.01%	+0.20 pp	9.06%	8.76%
Aug	9.24%	+0.23 pp	9.24%	8.91%
Sep	9.44%	+0.20 pp	9.44%	9.25%
Oct	10.72%	+1.28 pp	11.02%	9.47%
Nov	10.38%	−0.34 pp	11.00%	10.24%
Dec	10.33%	−0.05 pp	10.58%	10.13%

Other Markets in 1979

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
10-Year Treasury Yield	+1.18 pp	10.33%
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1979	+4.2%	838.74
S&P 500 in 1979	+12.3%	107.94
Nasdaq Composite in 1979	+28.1%	151.14
Gold in 1979	+126.5%	$512.00
Silver in 1979	+434.8%	$32.20

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

10-Year Treasury Yield in 1979: FAQ

How much did the US 10-year Treasury yield rise in 1979?

The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.18 percentage points in 1979, from 9.15% at the end of 1978 to 10.33%. Its highest close was 11.02% on Oct 23, and its lowest 8.76% on Jul 2.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the US 10-year Treasury yield in 1979?

Highest: 11.02% on October 23, 1979. Lowest: 8.76% on July 2, 1979. It closed higher on 113 of 248 trading days.

What happened to the US 10-year Treasury yield on October 6, 1979?

Volcker announces the Fed will target bank reserves instead of the federal funds rate. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.33 percentage points on the next trading day (October 9, 1979), and was +1.40 pp a month later.

Did the US 10-year Treasury yield reach a record high in 1979?

Yes — 22 record closing highs, the last at 11.02% on October 23, 1979.

Data: 10-year constant-maturity Treasury yield (Federal Reserve H.15 via FRED). 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.