Oil Prices in December 2004: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI dropped in December 2004: the monthly average fell to $43.15, down $5.32 (11.0%) from November 2004. The average was 34% above the $32.13 of December 2003.
Daily spot prices, December 2004
Chart data table (23 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2004 | — | $40.38 |
| Dec 30, 2004 | $43.36 | $39.80 |
| Dec 29, 2004 | $43.69 | $38.93 |
| Dec 28, 2004 | $41.78 | $40.24 |
| Dec 27, 2004 | $41.26 | $39.60 |
| Dec 24, 2004 | — | $39.60 |
| Dec 23, 2004 | $42.19 | $40.29 |
| Dec 22, 2004 | $44.05 | $40.44 |
| Dec 21, 2004 | $45.76 | $42.76 |
| Dec 20, 2004 | $45.57 | $42.67 |
| Dec 17, 2004 | $46.31 | $43.06 |
| Dec 16, 2004 | $44.16 | $41.49 |
| Dec 15, 2004 | $44.21 | $41.53 |
| Dec 14, 2004 | $41.76 | $37.03 |
| Dec 13, 2004 | $41.06 | $36.77 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | $40.71 | $37.24 |
| Dec 9, 2004 | $42.41 | $38.33 |
| Dec 8, 2004 | $41.96 | $36.90 |
| Dec 7, 2004 | $41.51 | $37.11 |
| Dec 6, 2004 | $42.96 | $38.43 |
| Dec 3, 2004 | $42.56 | $38.57 |
| Dec 2, 2004 | $43.31 | $38.49 |
| Dec 1, 2004 | $45.56 | $41.19 |
Prices dipped to $40.71 on Dec 10, 2004, then climbed to $46.31 on Dec 17, 2004 and ended at $43.36. The largest one-day move was −$3.60 on Dec 1, 2004 (−7.3%).
Brent traded below WTI on average this month: $39.60 for the month, $3.58 under WTI across 21 matched dates.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the December 2004 average equals $76.40 in September 2026 dollars.
December 2004 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $43.15 | $39.60 |
| Change vs November 2004 | −$5.32 | −$3.51 |
| Change vs December 2003 | +$11.02 | +$9.79 |
| Highest daily price | $46.31 Dec 17, 2004 | $43.06 Dec 17, 2004 |
| Lowest daily price | $40.71 Dec 10, 2004 | $36.77 Dec 13, 2004 |
| Published daily observations | 21 | 23 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $76.40 | $70.11 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 2004.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2004 – Dec 30, 2004 | Dec 30, 2004 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2004 – Dec 31, 2004 | Dec 31, 2004 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly | September 2026 |
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026, 5:27 PM CDT. Raw values are shown in source units; any conversion is labeled. See methodology and data sources.
Download:2004 daily prices (CSV)