Oil Prices in December 2020: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI jumped in December 2020: the monthly average rose to $47.02, up $6.08 (14.9%) from November 2020. A year earlier, in December 2019, it averaged $59.88, so the price was lower by $12.86 (21.5%) year over year.
Daily spot prices, December 2020
Chart data table (22 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2020 | $48.35 | $51.22 |
| Dec 30, 2020 | $48.24 | $50.74 |
| Dec 29, 2020 | $47.85 | $50.44 |
| Dec 28, 2020 | $47.50 | $50.88 |
| Dec 24, 2020 | $48.18 | $50.88 |
| Dec 23, 2020 | $47.94 | $51.05 |
| Dec 22, 2020 | $47.02 | $49.88 |
| Dec 21, 2020 | $47.79 | $50.61 |
| Dec 18, 2020 | $49.04 | $52.17 |
| Dec 17, 2020 | $48.34 | $51.20 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | $47.86 | $50.83 |
| Dec 15, 2020 | $47.58 | $50.77 |
| Dec 14, 2020 | $47.02 | $50.27 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | $46.59 | $50.01 |
| Dec 10, 2020 | $46.76 | $50.33 |
| Dec 9, 2020 | $45.48 | $48.81 |
| Dec 8, 2020 | $45.64 | $48.84 |
| Dec 7, 2020 | $45.72 | $48.63 |
| Dec 4, 2020 | $46.23 | $49.10 |
| Dec 3, 2020 | $45.65 | $48.37 |
| Dec 2, 2020 | $45.23 | $47.80 |
| Dec 1, 2020 | $44.54 | $47.03 |
Prices rose over the month, from $44.54 on Dec 1, 2020 to $48.35 on Dec 31, 2020, with gains on 14 of 22 trading days.
Brent averaged $49.99; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $2.97, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$2.49 to +$3.57.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the December 2020 average equals $60.82 in September 2026 dollars.
December 2020 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $47.02 | $49.99 |
| Change vs November 2020 | +$6.08 | +$7.30 |
| Change vs December 2019 | −$12.86 | −$17.32 |
| Highest daily price | $49.04 Dec 18, 2020 | $52.17 Dec 18, 2020 |
| Lowest daily price | $44.54 Dec 1, 2020 | $47.03 Dec 1, 2020 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 22 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $60.82 | $64.67 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 2020.
Part of the price episode: 2020 price crash
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2020 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2020 |
| 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:2020 daily prices (CSV)