Oil Prices in May 2020: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI jumped in May 2020: the monthly average rose to $28.56, up $12.01 (72.6%) from April 2020. The average was 53% below the $60.83 of May 2019.
Daily spot prices, May 2020
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2020 | $35.57 | $34.15 |
| May 28, 2020 | $33.67 | $33.98 |
| May 27, 2020 | $32.80 | $32.73 |
| May 26, 2020 | $34.70 | $33.95 |
| May 22, 2020 | $33.49 | $33.80 |
| May 21, 2020 | $34.30 | $34.78 |
| May 20, 2020 | $33.56 | $34.76 |
| May 19, 2020 | $32.30 | $33.06 |
| May 18, 2020 | $31.83 | $33.30 |
| May 15, 2020 | $29.44 | $30.95 |
| May 14, 2020 | $27.40 | $29.87 |
| May 13, 2020 | $25.37 | $27.89 |
| May 12, 2020 | $25.76 | $26.67 |
| May 11, 2020 | $24.02 | $25.53 |
| May 8, 2020 | $24.73 | — |
| May 7, 2020 | $23.68 | $24.23 |
| May 6, 2020 | $23.88 | $24.20 |
| May 5, 2020 | $24.56 | $25.46 |
| May 4, 2020 | $20.47 | $20.40 |
| May 1, 2020 | $19.72 | $18.49 |
Prices rose over the month, from $19.72 on May 1, 2020 to $35.57 on May 29, 2020, with gains on 14 of 20 trading days. The largest one-day move was +$4.09 on May 5, 2020 (+20.0%).
Brent averaged $29.38, within a dollar of WTI on average across the 19 dates when both were published.
It was the second-lowest monthly average of 2020. Adjusted with CPI-U, the May 2020 average equals $37.53 in September 2026 dollars.
May 2020 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $28.56 | $29.38 |
| Change vs April 2020 | +$12.01 | +$11.00 |
| Change vs May 2019 | −$32.27 | −$41.94 |
| Highest daily price | $35.57 May 29, 2020 | $34.78 May 21, 2020 |
| Lowest daily price | $19.72 May 1, 2020 | $18.49 May 1, 2020 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 19 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $37.53 | $38.61 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 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 | May 1, 2020 – May 29, 2020 | May 29, 2020 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2020 – May 29, 2020 | May 29, 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)