Oil Prices in 2006: WTI & Brent History and Monthly Averages
WTI averaged $66.05 per barrel in 2006, up $9.41 (16.6%) from 2005; that was the highest annual average since EIA's WTI series began in 1986, and the 5th consecutive annual increase.
Monthly average prices in 2006
| Month | WTI avg | WTI high | WTI low | Brent avg | Brent − WTI (matched dates) | WTI (September 2026 $) | Brent (September 2026 $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | $65.49 | $68.36 | $62.81 | $62.99 | −$2.47 | $111.28 | $107.03 |
| February | $61.63 | $66.61 | $57.61 | $60.21 | −$1.41 | $104.51 | $102.10 |
| March | $62.69 | $66.70 | $59.91 | $62.06 | −$0.62 | $105.72 | $104.66 |
| April | $69.44 | $73.73 | $65.75 | $70.26 | +$0.86 | $116.11 | $117.49 |
| May | $70.84 | $74.62 | $68.44 | $69.78 | −$1.04 | $117.87 | $116.11 |
| June | $70.95 | $73.94 | $68.48 | $68.56 | −$2.40 | $117.82 | $113.85 |
| July | $74.41 | $76.80 | $72.79 | $73.67 | −$0.72 | $123.20 | $121.98 |
| August | $73.04 | $77.05 | $69.74 | $73.23 | +$0.19 | $120.70 | $121.01 |
| September | $63.80 | $69.24 | $59.79 | $61.96 | −$2.17 | $105.95 | $102.89 |
| October | $58.89 | $60.96 | $56.74 | $57.81 | −$1.08 | $98.33 | $96.52 |
| November | $59.08 | $62.97 | $55.90 | $58.76 | −$0.47 | $98.79 | $98.26 |
| December | $61.96 | $63.43 | $60.31 | $62.47 | +$0.47 | $103.45 | $104.30 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Brent − WTI is the average over dates with both prices published, so it can differ from the difference between the two monthly averages. Inflation-adjusted columns use CPI-U for each month, expressed in September 2026 dollars; “—” means CPI-U for that month is not available.
From $57.61 on Feb 15, 2006, WTI climbed to $77.05 by Aug 7, 2006, a 34% gain. The steepest fall within the year ran from $77.05 on Aug 7, 2006 to $55.90 on Nov 17, 2006, a 27% drop. Between August and September the monthly average fell $9.24, the largest month-to-month change of the year. The largest one-day move was +$4.28 on Apr 26, 2006 (+6.3%).
The Brent–WTI spread changed sign during 2006: Brent's monthly average was below WTI's in 9 of 12 months and above it in the rest, for an average of −$0.92 on 247 matched dates. Brent averaged $65.16, up $10.59 (19.4%) from 2005.
Monthly averages peaked early, at $74.41 in July, and bottomed at $58.89 in October. In September 2026 dollars (CPI-U), the 2006 average is $110.39, higher than 2025's real average by $41.96 (61.3%). The 2000s as a whole averaged $51.10, so 2006 ran above its decade. Of 40 complete years with an EIA annual average, 2006 ranks 12th highest.
2006 summary statistics
| Measure | WTI | Brent | Brent − WTI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66.05 | $65.16 | −$0.92 |
| Change vs 2005 average | +$9.41 | +$10.59 | +$1.15 |
| Highest daily price | $77.05 Aug 7, 2006 | $78.26 Aug 9, 2006 | — |
| Lowest daily price | $55.90 Nov 17, 2006 | $55.82 Oct 4, 2006 | — |
| Highest daily spread | — | — | +$5.43 Apr 25, 2006 |
| Lowest daily spread | — | — | −$5.36 Sep 27, 2006 |
| First observation | $63.11 Jan 3, 2006 | $61.51 Jan 3, 2006 | — |
| Last observation | $60.85 Dec 29, 2006 | $58.96 Dec 29, 2006 | — |
| Published daily observations | 249 | 255 | 247 matched |
| Average in September 2026 dollars | $110.39 | $108.90 | — |
Daily spot prices in 2006
Show all 257 dates (Jan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006)
| Date | WTI | Brent | Brent − WTI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2006 | $63.11 | $61.51 | −$1.60 |
| Jan 4, 2006 | $63.41 | $61.25 | −$2.16 |
| Jan 5, 2006 | $62.81 | $61.68 | −$1.13 |
| Jan 6, 2006 | $64.21 | $62.43 | −$1.78 |
| Jan 9, 2006 | $63.56 | $62.51 | −$1.05 |
| Jan 10, 2006 | $63.41 | $62.32 | −$1.09 |
| Jan 11, 2006 | $63.91 | $61.54 | −$2.37 |
| Jan 12, 2006 | $63.96 | $62.95 | −$1.01 |
| Jan 13, 2006 | $63.86 | $61.58 | −$2.28 |
| Jan 16, 2006 | — | $62.34 | — |
| Jan 17, 2006 | $66.36 | $63.22 | −$3.14 |
| Jan 18, 2006 | $65.76 | $63.60 | −$2.16 |
| Jan 19, 2006 | $66.86 | $63.64 | −$3.22 |
| Jan 20, 2006 | $68.16 | $64.92 | −$3.24 |
| Jan 23, 2006 | $68.06 | $64.56 | −$3.50 |
| Jan 24, 2006 | $66.83 | $63.82 | −$3.01 |
| Jan 25, 2006 | $65.60 | $62.61 | −$2.99 |
| Jan 26, 2006 | $65.80 | $62.93 | −$2.87 |
| Jan 27, 2006 | $67.81 | $64.95 | −$2.86 |
| Jan 30, 2006 | $68.36 | $65.14 | −$3.22 |
| Jan 31, 2006 | $67.86 | $63.19 | −$4.67 |
| Feb 1, 2006 | $66.61 | $65.64 | −$0.97 |
| Feb 2, 2006 | $64.71 | $63.49 | −$1.22 |
| Feb 3, 2006 | $65.41 | $62.54 | −$2.87 |
| Feb 6, 2006 | $65.11 | $63.32 | −$1.79 |
| Feb 7, 2006 | $63.01 | $61.64 | −$1.37 |
| Feb 8, 2006 | $62.51 | $60.82 | −$1.69 |
| Feb 9, 2006 | $62.66 | $60.70 | −$1.96 |
| Feb 10, 2006 | $62.01 | $59.66 | −$2.35 |
| Feb 13, 2006 | $61.26 | $59.16 | −$2.10 |
| Feb 14, 2006 | $59.61 | $58.27 | −$1.34 |
| Feb 15, 2006 | $57.61 | $57.67 | +$0.06 |
| Feb 16, 2006 | $58.61 | $56.78 | −$1.83 |
| Feb 17, 2006 | $59.76 | $58.34 | −$1.42 |
| Feb 20, 2006 | — | $60.05 | — |
| Feb 21, 2006 | $61.21 | $59.35 | −$1.86 |
| Feb 22, 2006 | $59.03 | $58.71 | −$0.32 |
| Feb 23, 2006 | $58.03 | $58.71 | +$0.68 |
| Feb 24, 2006 | $61.46 | $60.13 | −$1.33 |
| Feb 27, 2006 | $61.01 | $59.44 | −$1.57 |
| Feb 28, 2006 | $61.37 | $59.78 | −$1.59 |
| Mar 1, 2006 | $62.01 | $61.12 | −$0.89 |
| Mar 2, 2006 | $63.36 | $62.27 | −$1.09 |
| Mar 3, 2006 | $63.61 | $62.69 | −$0.92 |
| Mar 6, 2006 | $62.46 | $61.41 | −$1.05 |
| Mar 7, 2006 | $61.51 | $59.79 | −$1.72 |
| Mar 8, 2006 | $60.06 | $58.42 | −$1.64 |
| Mar 9, 2006 | $60.51 | $58.82 | −$1.69 |
| Mar 10, 2006 | $59.91 | $59.04 | −$0.87 |
| Mar 13, 2006 | $61.81 | $60.99 | −$0.82 |
| Mar 14, 2006 | $63.01 | $62.39 | −$0.62 |
| Mar 15, 2006 | $62.11 | $63.12 | +$1.01 |
| Mar 16, 2006 | $63.46 | $62.07 | −$1.39 |
| Mar 17, 2006 | $62.81 | $63.54 | +$0.73 |
| Mar 20, 2006 | $60.31 | $62.30 | +$1.99 |
| Mar 21, 2006 | $60.41 | $59.96 | −$0.45 |
| Mar 22, 2006 | $60.03 | $61.23 | +$1.20 |
| Mar 23, 2006 | $62.13 | $61.76 | −$0.37 |
| Mar 24, 2006 | $63.90 | $62.78 | −$1.12 |
| Mar 27, 2006 | $63.75 | $62.59 | −$1.16 |
| Mar 28, 2006 | $65.65 | $64.31 | −$1.34 |
| Mar 29, 2006 | $66.00 | $64.88 | −$1.12 |
| Mar 30, 2006 | $66.70 | $65.95 | −$0.75 |
| Mar 31, 2006 | $66.25 | $66.06 | −$0.19 |
| Apr 3, 2006 | $66.07 | $67.28 | +$1.21 |
| Apr 4, 2006 | $65.75 | $65.93 | +$0.18 |
| Apr 5, 2006 | $66.76 | $66.74 | −$0.02 |
| Apr 6, 2006 | $67.22 | $67.58 | +$0.36 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | $67.02 | $67.11 | +$0.09 |
| Apr 10, 2006 | $68.29 | $68.20 | −$0.09 |
| Apr 11, 2006 | $69.03 | $68.52 | −$0.51 |
| Apr 12, 2006 | $68.53 | $69.54 | +$1.01 |
| Apr 13, 2006 | $69.53 | $69.39 | −$0.14 |
| Apr 17, 2006 | $70.30 | — | — |
| Apr 18, 2006 | $71.28 | $70.97 | −$0.31 |
| Apr 19, 2006 | $72.07 | $72.69 | +$0.62 |
| Apr 20, 2006 | $71.96 | $72.57 | +$0.61 |
| Apr 21, 2006 | $73.73 | $73.94 | +$0.21 |
| Apr 24, 2006 | $70.19 | $73.96 | +$3.77 |
| Apr 25, 2006 | $67.43 | $72.86 | +$5.43 |
| Apr 26, 2006 | $71.71 | $73.46 | +$1.75 |
| Apr 27, 2006 | $70.76 | $71.79 | +$1.03 |
| Apr 28, 2006 | $71.80 | $72.15 | +$0.35 |
| May 1, 2006 | $73.75 | $73.37 | −$0.38 |
| May 2, 2006 | $74.62 | $74.45 | −$0.17 |
| May 3, 2006 | $72.26 | $73.73 | +$1.47 |
| May 4, 2006 | $69.98 | $71.84 | +$1.86 |
| May 5, 2006 | $70.09 | $71.22 | +$1.13 |
| May 8, 2006 | $69.75 | $68.26 | −$1.49 |
| May 9, 2006 | $70.71 | $70.60 | −$0.11 |
| May 10, 2006 | $72.15 | $69.83 | −$2.32 |
| May 11, 2006 | $73.00 | $72.20 | −$0.80 |
| May 12, 2006 | $71.87 | $71.30 | −$0.57 |
| May 15, 2006 | $69.25 | $68.69 | −$0.56 |
| May 16, 2006 | $69.40 | $68.66 | −$0.74 |
| May 17, 2006 | $68.65 | $67.52 | −$1.13 |
| May 18, 2006 | $69.63 | $67.39 | −$2.24 |
| May 19, 2006 | $68.44 | $66.93 | −$1.51 |
| May 22, 2006 | $69.23 | $66.52 | −$2.71 |
| May 23, 2006 | $70.78 | $68.97 | −$1.81 |
| May 24, 2006 | $69.47 | $68.45 | −$1.02 |
| May 25, 2006 | $70.92 | $68.51 | −$2.41 |
| May 26, 2006 | $71.35 | $69.88 | −$1.47 |
| May 29, 2006 | — | $69.16 | — |
| May 30, 2006 | $71.85 | $69.82 | −$2.03 |
| May 31, 2006 | $71.42 | $67.57 | −$3.85 |
| Jun 1, 2006 | $70.11 | $68.77 | −$1.34 |
| Jun 2, 2006 | $72.73 | $68.42 | −$4.31 |
| Jun 5, 2006 | $72.50 | $69.13 | −$3.37 |
| Jun 6, 2006 | $72.43 | $68.25 | −$4.18 |
| Jun 7, 2006 | $70.90 | $67.17 | −$3.73 |
| Jun 8, 2006 | $70.25 | $65.76 | −$4.49 |
| Jun 9, 2006 | $71.62 | $69.13 | −$2.49 |
| Jun 12, 2006 | $70.28 | $68.62 | −$1.66 |
| Jun 13, 2006 | $68.48 | $65.67 | −$2.81 |
| Jun 14, 2006 | $69.12 | $65.52 | −$3.60 |
| Jun 15, 2006 | $69.78 | $66.04 | −$3.74 |
| Jun 16, 2006 | $69.75 | $65.01 | −$4.74 |
| Jun 19, 2006 | $69.21 | $66.40 | −$2.81 |
| Jun 20, 2006 | $69.30 | $67.57 | −$1.73 |
| Jun 21, 2006 | $70.07 | $68.17 | −$1.90 |
| Jun 22, 2006 | $70.62 | $69.60 | −$1.02 |
| Jun 23, 2006 | $70.50 | $69.91 | −$0.59 |
| Jun 26, 2006 | $71.63 | $69.85 | −$1.78 |
| Jun 27, 2006 | $72.05 | $71.26 | −$0.79 |
| Jun 28, 2006 | $72.15 | $71.76 | −$0.39 |
| Jun 29, 2006 | $73.50 | $73.02 | −$0.48 |
| Jun 30, 2006 | $73.94 | $73.20 | −$0.74 |
| Jul 3, 2006 | — | $73.94 | — |
| Jul 4, 2006 | — | $73.17 | — |
| Jul 5, 2006 | $75.20 | $72.88 | −$2.32 |
| Jul 6, 2006 | $75.00 | $73.12 | −$1.88 |
| Jul 7, 2006 | $73.76 | $74.14 | +$0.38 |
| Jul 10, 2006 | $73.50 | $72.39 | −$1.11 |
| Jul 11, 2006 | $74.05 | $73.14 | −$0.91 |
| Jul 12, 2006 | $74.99 | $73.04 | −$1.95 |
| Jul 13, 2006 | $76.70 | $75.23 | −$1.47 |
| Jul 14, 2006 | $76.80 | $76.13 | −$0.67 |
| Jul 17, 2006 | $75.70 | $75.12 | −$0.58 |
| Jul 18, 2006 | $73.87 | $75.32 | +$1.45 |
| Jul 19, 2006 | $72.79 | $71.62 | −$1.17 |
| Jul 20, 2006 | $74.00 | $72.56 | −$1.44 |
| Jul 21, 2006 | $73.52 | $72.96 | −$0.56 |
| Jul 24, 2006 | $74.29 | $72.09 | −$2.20 |
| Jul 25, 2006 | $73.46 | $72.49 | −$0.97 |
| Jul 26, 2006 | $73.82 | $73.76 | −$0.06 |
| Jul 27, 2006 | $74.50 | $75.36 | +$0.86 |
| Jul 28, 2006 | $73.30 | $73.95 | +$0.65 |
| Jul 31, 2006 | $74.56 | $74.75 | +$0.19 |
| Aug 1, 2006 | $74.93 | $76.39 | +$1.46 |
| Aug 2, 2006 | $76.16 | $77.63 | +$1.47 |
| Aug 3, 2006 | $75.59 | $76.28 | +$0.69 |
| Aug 4, 2006 | $74.78 | $76.53 | +$1.75 |
| Aug 7, 2006 | $77.05 | $77.82 | +$0.77 |
| Aug 8, 2006 | $76.29 | $77.93 | +$1.64 |
| Aug 9, 2006 | $76.28 | $78.26 | +$1.98 |
| Aug 10, 2006 | $74.17 | $75.69 | +$1.52 |
| Aug 11, 2006 | $74.38 | $75.19 | +$0.81 |
| Aug 14, 2006 | $73.33 | $73.78 | +$0.45 |
| Aug 15, 2006 | $72.95 | $73.57 | +$0.62 |
| Aug 16, 2006 | $71.64 | $72.67 | +$1.03 |
| Aug 17, 2006 | $70.12 | $70.42 | +$0.30 |
| Aug 18, 2006 | $70.93 | $71.30 | +$0.37 |
| Aug 21, 2006 | $72.45 | $72.42 | −$0.03 |
| Aug 22, 2006 | $72.55 | $72.06 | −$0.49 |
| Aug 23, 2006 | $71.45 | $71.12 | −$0.33 |
| Aug 24, 2006 | $72.02 | $71.40 | −$0.62 |
| Aug 25, 2006 | $72.13 | $72.58 | +$0.45 |
| Aug 28, 2006 | $70.47 | $69.44 | −$1.03 |
| Aug 29, 2006 | $69.74 | $67.01 | −$2.73 |
| Aug 30, 2006 | $70.20 | $67.15 | −$3.05 |
| Aug 31, 2006 | $70.38 | $67.66 | −$2.72 |
| Sep 1, 2006 | $69.24 | $70.49 | +$1.25 |
| Sep 4, 2006 | — | $68.62 | — |
| Sep 5, 2006 | $68.70 | $65.94 | −$2.76 |
| Sep 6, 2006 | $67.75 | $65.41 | −$2.34 |
| Sep 7, 2006 | $67.37 | $64.52 | −$2.85 |
| Sep 8, 2006 | $66.30 | $64.30 | −$2.00 |
| Sep 11, 2006 | $65.42 | $62.41 | −$3.01 |
| Sep 12, 2006 | $63.81 | $62.23 | −$1.58 |
| Sep 13, 2006 | $64.09 | $61.28 | −$2.81 |
| Sep 14, 2006 | $63.27 | $60.75 | −$2.52 |
| Sep 15, 2006 | $63.30 | $60.23 | −$3.07 |
| Sep 18, 2006 | $63.84 | $61.47 | −$2.37 |
| Sep 19, 2006 | $61.77 | $62.52 | +$0.75 |
| Sep 20, 2006 | $60.00 | $59.09 | −$0.91 |
| Sep 21, 2006 | $61.62 | $59.27 | −$2.35 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | $59.79 | $58.81 | −$0.98 |
| Sep 25, 2006 | $60.74 | $57.89 | −$2.85 |
| Sep 26, 2006 | $60.63 | $58.53 | −$2.10 |
| Sep 27, 2006 | $62.96 | $57.60 | −$5.36 |
| Sep 28, 2006 | $62.46 | $60.68 | −$1.78 |
| Sep 29, 2006 | $62.90 | $59.09 | −$3.81 |
| Oct 2, 2006 | $60.96 | $58.80 | −$2.16 |
| Oct 3, 2006 | $58.64 | $56.28 | −$2.36 |
| Oct 4, 2006 | $59.53 | $55.82 | −$3.71 |
| Oct 5, 2006 | $60.02 | $57.93 | −$2.09 |
| Oct 6, 2006 | $59.68 | $56.90 | −$2.78 |
| Oct 9, 2006 | $59.93 | $59.25 | −$0.68 |
| Oct 10, 2006 | $58.50 | $57.80 | −$0.70 |
| Oct 11, 2006 | $57.56 | $57.75 | +$0.19 |
| Oct 12, 2006 | $58.23 | $57.87 | −$0.36 |
| Oct 13, 2006 | $58.69 | $58.97 | +$0.28 |
| Oct 16, 2006 | $59.91 | $58.22 | −$1.69 |
| Oct 17, 2006 | $58.91 | $60.13 | +$1.22 |
| Oct 18, 2006 | $57.66 | $58.51 | +$0.85 |
| Oct 19, 2006 | $58.55 | $57.74 | −$0.81 |
| Oct 20, 2006 | $57.35 | $57.94 | +$0.59 |
| Oct 23, 2006 | $56.74 | $56.56 | −$0.18 |
| Oct 24, 2006 | $57.55 | $56.56 | −$0.99 |
| Oct 25, 2006 | $59.09 | $58.79 | −$0.30 |
| Oct 26, 2006 | $60.27 | $58.76 | −$1.51 |
| Oct 27, 2006 | $60.75 | $57.99 | −$2.76 |
| Oct 30, 2006 | $58.41 | $57.08 | −$1.33 |
| Oct 31, 2006 | $58.72 | $56.13 | −$2.59 |
| Nov 1, 2006 | $58.64 | $56.37 | −$2.27 |
| Nov 2, 2006 | $57.87 | $56.26 | −$1.61 |
| Nov 3, 2006 | $59.13 | $56.55 | −$2.58 |
| Nov 6, 2006 | $60.11 | $57.02 | −$3.09 |
| Nov 7, 2006 | $58.94 | $56.99 | −$1.95 |
| Nov 8, 2006 | $59.93 | $57.18 | −$2.75 |
| Nov 9, 2006 | $61.18 | $59.72 | −$1.46 |
| Nov 10, 2006 | $59.66 | $59.18 | −$0.48 |
| Nov 13, 2006 | $58.59 | $56.88 | −$1.71 |
| Nov 14, 2006 | $58.28 | $57.90 | −$0.38 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | $58.79 | $57.97 | −$0.82 |
| Nov 16, 2006 | $56.23 | $59.50 | +$3.27 |
| Nov 17, 2006 | $55.90 | $57.01 | +$1.11 |
| Nov 20, 2006 | $56.42 | $57.38 | +$0.96 |
| Nov 21, 2006 | $58.01 | $59.53 | +$1.52 |
| Nov 22, 2006 | $57.28 | $58.66 | +$1.38 |
| Nov 23, 2006 | — | $59.70 | — |
| Nov 24, 2006 | — | $60.72 | — |
| Nov 27, 2006 | $60.30 | $60.52 | +$0.22 |
| Nov 28, 2006 | $60.97 | $61.22 | +$0.25 |
| Nov 29, 2006 | $62.45 | $62.13 | −$0.32 |
| Nov 30, 2006 | $62.97 | $64.36 | +$1.39 |
| Dec 1, 2006 | $63.43 | $64.74 | +$1.31 |
| Dec 4, 2006 | $62.39 | $63.97 | +$1.58 |
| Dec 5, 2006 | $62.40 | $63.65 | +$1.25 |
| Dec 6, 2006 | $62.20 | $63.70 | +$1.50 |
| Dec 7, 2006 | $62.54 | $63.17 | +$0.63 |
| Dec 8, 2006 | $62.06 | $63.67 | +$1.61 |
| Dec 11, 2006 | $61.26 | $62.59 | +$1.33 |
| Dec 12, 2006 | $61.06 | $62.58 | +$1.52 |
| Dec 13, 2006 | $61.34 | $61.89 | +$0.55 |
| Dec 14, 2006 | $62.48 | $62.85 | +$0.37 |
| Dec 15, 2006 | $63.40 | $62.91 | −$0.49 |
| Dec 18, 2006 | $62.19 | $62.81 | +$0.62 |
| Dec 19, 2006 | $62.87 | $62.19 | −$0.68 |
| Dec 20, 2006 | $63.08 | $63.13 | +$0.05 |
| Dec 21, 2006 | $62.05 | $62.13 | +$0.08 |
| Dec 22, 2006 | $61.81 | $61.92 | +$0.11 |
| Dec 26, 2006 | $61.07 | — | — |
| Dec 27, 2006 | $60.31 | $60.70 | +$0.39 |
| Dec 28, 2006 | $60.39 | $59.41 | −$0.98 |
| Dec 29, 2006 | $60.85 | $58.96 | −$1.89 |
“—” means EIA published no price for that benchmark on that date.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB | $/bbl | Jan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006 | Dec 29, 2006 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB | $/bbl | Jan 3, 2006 – Dec 29, 2006 | Dec 29, 2006 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly and annual average | September 2026 |
Inflation adjustment: real = nominal × CPI-U(September 2026) ÷ CPI-U(period). Annual figures use the BLS annual average CPI-U; a year without one uses the mean of the months published so far.
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:2006 daily prices (CSV)