Oil Prices in May 2026: WTI & Brent Daily Prices and Monthly Average
At $102.13 per barrel, May 2026's WTI average was the highest monthly average in nominal terms since June 2022, up $1.81 (1.8%) from April 2026. The average was 64% above the $62.17 of May 2025.
Daily spot prices, May 2026
Chart data table (20 rows)
| Period | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | $91.16 | $92.88 |
| May 28, 2026 | $92.65 | $95.47 |
| May 27, 2026 | $92.35 | $97.11 |
| May 26, 2026 | $97.63 | $102.75 |
| May 22, 2026 | $100.35 | $106.90 |
| May 21, 2026 | $100.20 | $105.84 |
| May 20, 2026 | $101.69 | $108.93 |
| May 19, 2026 | $112.09 | $114.64 |
| May 18, 2026 | $112.25 | $116.73 |
| May 15, 2026 | $108.99 | $113.96 |
| May 14, 2026 | $104.66 | $110.91 |
| May 13, 2026 | $104.52 | $110.28 |
| May 12, 2026 | $105.78 | $111.37 |
| May 11, 2026 | $101.56 | $106.11 |
| May 8, 2026 | $98.87 | $103.48 |
| May 7, 2026 | $98.38 | $101.82 |
| May 6, 2026 | $98.75 | $103.70 |
| May 5, 2026 | $105.66 | $114.51 |
| May 4, 2026 | $109.76 | — |
| May 1, 2026 | $105.38 | $118.26 |
Prices fell over the month, from $105.38 on May 1, 2026 to $91.16 on May 29, 2026. The largest one-day move was −$10.40 on May 20, 2026 (−9.3%).
Brent averaged $107.14; its premium over WTI on matched dates averaged $5.41, with the daily Brent − WTI difference ranging from +$1.72 to +$12.88.
It was the highest monthly average of 2026 so far.
May 2026 summary
| Measure | WTI | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly average | $102.13 | $107.14 |
| Change vs April 2026 | +$1.81 | −$10.15 |
| Change vs May 2025 | +$39.96 | +$42.69 |
| Highest daily price | $112.25 May 18, 2026 | $118.26 May 1, 2026 |
| Lowest daily price | $91.16 May 29, 2026 | $92.88 May 29, 2026 |
| Published daily observations | 20 | 19 |
| Average in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U) | $102.68 | $107.72 |
Monthly averages are EIA's published figures. Real figures use CPI-U for May 2026.
Source and methodology
| Provider | Series | Units | Coverage | Latest observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RWTC — WTI spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2026 – May 29, 2026 | May 29, 2026 |
| U.S. Energy Information Administration | RBRTE — Brent spot price FOB (daily, monthly) | $/bbl | May 1, 2026 – May 29, 2026 | May 29, 2026 |
| 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:2026 daily prices (CSV)