Oil Prices in May 2012: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $94.66 per barrel in May 2012, down $8.66 (8.4%) from April 2012. A year earlier, in May 2011, it averaged $100.90, so the price was lower by $6.24 (6.2%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, May 2012
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2012 | $86.52 | $103.86 |
| May 30, 2012 | $87.79 | $103.85 |
| May 29, 2012 | $90.75 | $107.55 |
| May 25, 2012 | $90.64 | $107.86 |
| May 24, 2012 | $90.36 | $107.20 |
| May 23, 2012 | $89.40 | $106.88 |
| May 22, 2012 | $91.44 | $109.76 |
| May 21, 2012 | $92.57 | $109.02 |
| May 18, 2012 | $91.51 | $108.03 |
| May 17, 2012 | $92.53 | $109.31 |
| May 16, 2012 | $92.78 | $109.80 |
| May 15, 2012 | $93.97 | $111.40 |
| May 14, 2012 | $94.75 | $110.79 |
| May 11, 2012 | $96.03 | $112.50 |
| May 10, 2012 | $97.10 | $112.24 |
| May 9, 2012 | $96.80 | $111.89 |
| May 8, 2012 | $97.13 | $110.48 |
| May 7, 2012 | $97.86 | — |
| May 4, 2012 | $98.49 | $111.66 |
| May 3, 2012 | $102.56 | $115.91 |
| May 2, 2012 | $105.25 | $117.57 |
| May 1, 2012 | $106.17 | $119.57 |
Prices fell over the month, from $106.17 on May 1, 2012 to $86.52 on May 31, 2012, with declines on 16 of 22 trading days. The largest one-day move was −$4.07 on May 4, 2012 (−4.0%).
Brent averaged $110.34; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $15.84, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$12.32 to +$18.32.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2012 average equals $138.78 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2012 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $94.66 | $110.34 |
| Change vs April 2012 | −$8.66 | −$9.41 |
| Change vs May 2011 | −$6.24 | −$4.65 |
| Highest daily price | $106.17 May 1, 2012 | $119.57 May 1, 2012 |
| Lowest daily price | $86.52 May 31, 2012 | $103.85 May 30, 2012 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $138.78 | $161.77 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2012.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2012 – May 31, 2012 | May 31, 2012 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2012 – May 31, 2012 | May 31, 2012 |
| 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:2012 daily prices (CSV)