Oil Prices in the 2010s: WTI & Brent Decade Averages
Across the 2010s, WTI averaged $72.42 per barrel, the mean of 120 monthly averages; that is higher by $21.32 (41.7%) than the 2000s.
By year, the highest WTI average was $97.98 in 2013 and the lowest $43.29 in 2016. The sharpest annual decline came in 2015, down $44.51, larger than the biggest increase, up $15.40 in 2011. Daily prices ranged from $26.19 (Feb 11, 2016) to $113.39 (Apr 29, 2011).
Annual average prices, 2010s
| Year | WTI avg | vs prior year | WTI high | WTI low | Brent avg | Brent − WTI | WTI (September 2026 $) | Brent (September 2026 $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | $79.48 | — | $91.48 | $64.78 | $79.61 | +$0.13 | $122.81 | $123.01 |
| 2011 | $94.88 | +19.4% | $113.39 | $75.40 | $111.26 | +$16.52 | $142.12 | $166.66 |
| 2012 | $94.05 | −0.9% | $109.39 | $77.72 | $111.63 | +$17.62 | $138.02 | $163.82 |
| 2013 | $97.98 | +4.2% | $110.62 | $86.65 | $108.56 | +$10.57 | $141.71 | $157.02 |
| 2014 | $93.17 | −4.9% | $107.95 | $53.45 | $98.97 | +$5.76 | $132.61 | $140.86 |
| 2015 | $48.66 | −47.8% | $61.36 | $34.55 | $52.32 | +$3.62 | $69.17 | $74.38 |
| 2016 | $43.29 | −11.0% | $54.01 | $26.19 | $43.64 | +$0.41 | $60.77 | $61.27 |
| 2017 | $50.80 | +17.3% | $60.46 | $42.48 | $54.13 | +$3.37 | $69.83 | $74.41 |
| 2018 | $65.23 | +28.4% | $77.41 | $44.48 | $71.34 | +$6.12 | $87.53 | $95.73 |
| 2019 | $57.00 | −12.6% | $66.24 | $46.31 | $64.30 | +$7.36 | $75.12 | $84.74 |
Brent averaged $79.57 over 120 months. On 2,511 dates with both prices published, Brent was on average $7.13 above WTI.
In September 2026 dollars, using CPI-U month by month, the decade's WTI average is about $103.91 per barrel.
Compared with adjacent decades
| Decade | WTI average | WTI (September 2026 $) | Brent average | Highest WTI | Date | Lowest WTI | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | $51.10 | $86.55 | $49.54 | $145.31 | Jul 3, 2008 | $17.50 | Nov 15, 2001 |
| 2010s | $72.42 | $103.91 | $79.57 | $113.39 | Apr 29, 2011 | $26.19 | Feb 11, 2016 |
| 2020s | $72.25 | $81.07 | $76.93 | $123.64 | Mar 8, 2022 | −$36.98 | Apr 20, 2020 |
Decade averages are the mean of monthly averages (EIA's published monthly figures where available). Real values adjust each month with that month's CPI-U; months without published CPI-U are omitted from the real average.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB | $/bbl | Jan 4, 2010 – Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2019 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB | $/bbl | Jan 4, 2010 – Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2019 |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | CUUR0000SA0 — CPI-U, all items, NSA | index, 1982–84=100 | monthly and annual average | 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.
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