Oil Prices in December 2021: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
WTI averaged $71.71 per barrel in December 2021, down $7.44 (9.4%) from November 2021. The average was 53% above the $47.02 of December 2020.
Daily spot prices, December 2021
Chart data table (23 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2021 | $75.33 | $77.24 |
| Dec 30, 2021 | $76.83 | $78.61 |
| Dec 29, 2021 | $76.58 | $78.63 |
| Dec 28, 2021 | $76.01 | — |
| Dec 27, 2021 | $75.49 | — |
| Dec 24, 2021 | — | $75.24 |
| Dec 23, 2021 | $73.89 | $76.26 |
| Dec 22, 2021 | $72.82 | $74.69 |
| Dec 21, 2021 | $71.10 | $72.85 |
| Dec 20, 2021 | $68.69 | $70.51 |
| Dec 17, 2021 | $70.93 | $72.97 |
| Dec 16, 2021 | $72.34 | $74.64 |
| Dec 15, 2021 | $70.89 | $73.71 |
| Dec 14, 2021 | $70.57 | $73.37 |
| Dec 13, 2021 | $71.19 | $74.12 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | $71.71 | $74.98 |
| Dec 9, 2021 | $70.87 | $74.10 |
| Dec 8, 2021 | $72.43 | $75.94 |
| Dec 7, 2021 | $71.94 | $75.54 |
| Dec 6, 2021 | $69.62 | $73.38 |
| Dec 3, 2021 | $66.39 | $70.71 |
| Dec 2, 2021 | $66.60 | $70.56 |
| Dec 1, 2021 | $65.44 | $69.53 |
Prices rose over the month, from $65.44 on Dec 1, 2021 to $75.33 on Dec 31, 2021, with gains on 14 of 22 trading days. The largest one-day move was +$3.23 on Dec 6, 2021 (+4.9%).
Brent averaged $74.17; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $2.81, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$1.75 to +$4.32.
Adjusted with CPI-U, the December 2021 average equals $86.66 in September 2026 dollars.
December 2021 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $71.71 | $74.17 |
| Change vs November 2021 | −$7.44 | −$6.88 |
| Change vs December 2020 | +$24.69 | +$24.18 |
| Highest daily price | $76.83 Dec 30, 2021 | $78.63 Dec 29, 2021 |
| Lowest daily price | $65.44 Dec 1, 2021 | $69.53 Dec 1, 2021 |
| Published daily observations | 22 | 21 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $86.66 | $89.64 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for December 2021.
Part of the price episode: 2022 price spike
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2021 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | Dec 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2021 |
| 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:2021 daily prices (CSV)