Oil Prices in May 2005: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $49.83 per barrel in May 2005, down $3.15 (5.9%) from April 2005. A year earlier, in May 2004, it averaged $40.28, so the price was higher by $9.55 (23.7%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, May 2005
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2005 | $52.08 | $49.30 |
| May 30, 2005 | — | $49.33 |
| May 27, 2005 | $51.65 | $49.42 |
| May 26, 2005 | $50.89 | $49.71 |
| May 25, 2005 | $50.37 | $49.24 |
| May 24, 2005 | $49.14 | $47.29 |
| May 23, 2005 | $48.68 | $47.28 |
| May 20, 2005 | $47.25 | $46.91 |
| May 19, 2005 | $47.00 | $46.92 |
| May 18, 2005 | $46.99 | $47.35 |
| May 17, 2005 | $48.97 | $47.31 |
| May 16, 2005 | $48.64 | $46.42 |
| May 13, 2005 | $48.65 | $46.85 |
| May 12, 2005 | $48.83 | $47.40 |
| May 11, 2005 | $50.39 | $48.91 |
| May 10, 2005 | $51.76 | $50.61 |
| May 9, 2005 | $52.04 | $49.71 |
| May 6, 2005 | $51.30 | $49.70 |
| May 5, 2005 | $51.12 | $49.81 |
| May 4, 2005 | $50.22 | $50.36 |
| May 3, 2005 | $49.60 | $49.48 |
| May 2, 2005 | $50.94 | $50.89 |
The month's range ran from $46.99 on May 18, 2005 to $52.08 on May 31, 2005; the last price was $52.08 on May 31, 2005. The largest one-day move was −$1.98 on May 18, 2005 (−4.0%).
Brent traded below WTI on average this month: $48.65 for the month, $1.22 under WTI across 21 matched dates.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2005 average equals $86.37 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2005 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $49.83 | $48.65 |
| Change vs April 2005 | −$3.15 | −$3.23 |
| Change vs May 2004 | +$9.55 | +$11.08 |
| Highest daily price | $52.08 May 31, 2005 | $50.89 May 2, 2005 |
| Lowest daily price | $46.99 May 18, 2005 | $46.42 May 16, 2005 |
| Published daily observations | 21 | 22 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $86.37 | $84.32 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2005.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 2, 2005 – May 31, 2005 | May 31, 2005 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 2, 2005 – May 31, 2005 | May 31, 2005 |
| 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:2005 daily prices (CSV)