Oil Prices in January 2009: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $41.71 per barrel in January 2009, little changed from December 2008 ($41.12). The average was 55% below the $92.97 of January 2008.
Daily spot prices, January 2009
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2009 | $41.73 | $44.17 |
| Jan 29, 2009 | $41.58 | $43.13 |
| Jan 28, 2009 | $42.04 | $42.86 |
| Jan 27, 2009 | $41.67 | $42.86 |
| Jan 26, 2009 | $46.50 | $48.00 |
| Jan 23, 2009 | $45.12 | $43.13 |
| Jan 22, 2009 | $42.33 | $42.42 |
| Jan 21, 2009 | $42.56 | $39.90 |
| Jan 20, 2009 | $38.57 | $41.22 |
| Jan 16, 2009 | $35.38 | $43.42 |
| Jan 15, 2009 | $35.41 | $42.32 |
| Jan 14, 2009 | $37.43 | $42.27 |
| Jan 13, 2009 | $37.77 | $43.05 |
| Jan 12, 2009 | $37.65 | $40.86 |
| Jan 9, 2009 | $40.69 | $42.34 |
| Jan 8, 2009 | $41.68 | $42.94 |
| Jan 7, 2009 | $42.75 | $46.23 |
| Jan 6, 2009 | $48.56 | $48.89 |
| Jan 5, 2009 | $48.61 | $45.84 |
| Jan 2, 2009 | $46.17 | $42.94 |
Prices peaked at $48.61 on Jan 5, 2009, then fell to $35.38 on Jan 16, 2009 and ended at $41.73. The largest one-day move was −$5.81 on Jan 7, 2009 (−12.0%).
Brent averaged $43.44; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $1.73, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from −$3.23 to +$8.04.
It was the second-lowest monthly average of 2009. Adjusted with CPI-U, the January 2009 average equals $66.56 in September 2026 dollars.
January 2009 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $41.71 | $43.44 |
| Change vs December 2008 | +$0.59 | +$3.49 |
| Change vs January 2008 | −$51.26 | −$48.74 |
| Highest daily price | $48.61 Jan 5, 2009 | $48.89 Jan 6, 2009 |
| Lowest daily price | $35.38 Jan 16, 2009 | $39.90 Jan 21, 2009 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 20 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $66.56 | $69.32 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for January 2009.
Part of the price episode: 2008 spike and crash
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 2, 2009 – Jan 30, 2009 | Jan 30, 2009 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 2, 2009 – Jan 30, 2009 | Jan 30, 2009 |
| 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:2009 daily prices (CSV)