Oil Prices in May 2010: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI dropped in May 2010: the monthly average fell to $73.74, down $10.55 (12.5%) from April 2010. A year earlier, in May 2009, it averaged $59.03, so the price was higher by $14.71 (24.9%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, May 2010
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2010 | $74.00 | $73.00 |
| May 27, 2010 | $74.56 | $73.56 |
| May 26, 2010 | $71.52 | $70.59 |
| May 25, 2010 | $64.78 | $67.18 |
| May 24, 2010 | $68.23 | $69.62 |
| May 21, 2010 | $68.03 | $70.45 |
| May 20, 2010 | $68.28 | $69.56 |
| May 19, 2010 | $69.91 | $71.86 |
| May 18, 2010 | $69.38 | $75.12 |
| May 17, 2010 | $70.08 | $73.87 |
| May 14, 2010 | $71.61 | $76.43 |
| May 13, 2010 | $74.38 | $79.41 |
| May 12, 2010 | $75.65 | $78.70 |
| May 11, 2010 | $76.37 | $79.00 |
| May 10, 2010 | $76.89 | $78.08 |
| May 7, 2010 | $75.10 | $76.48 |
| May 6, 2010 | $77.18 | $80.21 |
| May 5, 2010 | $80.00 | $82.31 |
| May 4, 2010 | $82.73 | $85.39 |
| May 3, 2010 | $86.19 | $88.09 |
The month's range ran from $64.78 on May 25, 2010 to $86.19 on May 3, 2010; the last price was $74.00 on May 28, 2010. The largest one-day move was +$6.74 on May 26, 2010 (+10.4%).
Brent averaged $75.95; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $2.20, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from −$1.00 to +$5.74.
It was the lowest monthly average of 2010. Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2010 average equals $113.88 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2010 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $73.74 | $75.95 |
| Change vs April 2010 | −$10.55 | −$8.87 |
| Change vs May 2009 | +$14.71 | +$18.65 |
| Highest daily price | $86.19 May 3, 2010 | $88.09 May 3, 2010 |
| Lowest daily price | $64.78 May 25, 2010 | $67.18 May 25, 2010 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 20 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $113.88 | $117.29 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2010.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 3, 2010 – May 28, 2010 | May 28, 2010 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 3, 2010 – May 28, 2010 | May 28, 2010 |
| 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:2010 daily prices (CSV)