Oil Prices in January 2016: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI dropped in January 2016: the monthly average fell to $31.68, down $5.51 (14.8%) from December 2015, the lowest monthly average in nominal terms since November 2003. The average was 33% below the $47.22 of January 2015.
Daily spot prices, January 2016
Chart data table (21 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2016 | $33.66 | $33.14 |
| Jan 28, 2016 | $33.21 | $33.01 |
| Jan 27, 2016 | $32.32 | $31.83 |
| Jan 26, 2016 | $29.54 | $30.94 |
| Jan 25, 2016 | $30.31 | $29.82 |
| Jan 22, 2016 | $32.07 | $30.46 |
| Jan 21, 2016 | $29.55 | $27.59 |
| Jan 20, 2016 | $26.68 | $26.01 |
| Jan 19, 2016 | $28.47 | $27.36 |
| Jan 18, 2016 | — | $27.36 |
| Jan 15, 2016 | $29.45 | $28.80 |
| Jan 14, 2016 | $31.22 | $28.84 |
| Jan 13, 2016 | $30.42 | $28.58 |
| Jan 12, 2016 | $30.42 | $29.14 |
| Jan 11, 2016 | $31.42 | $30.14 |
| Jan 8, 2016 | $33.20 | $31.67 |
| Jan 7, 2016 | $33.29 | $33.57 |
| Jan 6, 2016 | $33.97 | $33.89 |
| Jan 5, 2016 | $35.97 | $35.56 |
| Jan 4, 2016 | $36.81 | $36.28 |
| Jan 1, 2016 | $37.13 | $36.61 |
The month's range ran from $26.68 on Jan 20, 2016 to $37.13 on Jan 1, 2016; the last price was $33.66 on Jan 29, 2016. The largest one-day move was +$2.87 on Jan 21, 2016 (+10.8%).
Brent averaged $30.70, within a dollar of WTI on average across the 20 dates when both were published.
It was the second-lowest monthly average of 2016. Adjusted with CPI-U, the January 2016 average equals $45.06 in September 2026 dollars.
January 2016 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $31.68 | $30.70 |
| Change vs December 2015 | −$5.51 | −$7.31 |
| Change vs January 2015 | −$15.54 | −$17.06 |
| Highest daily price | $37.13 Jan 1, 2016 | $36.61 Jan 1, 2016 |
| Lowest daily price | $26.68 Jan 20, 2016 | $26.01 Jan 20, 2016 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $45.06 | $43.66 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for January 2016.
Part of the price episode: 2014–16 price decline
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 1, 2016 – Jan 29, 2016 | Jan 29, 2016 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Jan 1, 2016 – Jan 29, 2016 | Jan 29, 2016 |
| 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:2016 daily prices (CSV)