Dow Jones in 1929
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 17.2% in 1929, from 300.00 at the end of 1928 to 248.48. Its highest close was 381.17 on Sep 3 — a record that stood until November 23, 1954, and its lowest 198.69 on Nov 13. The biggest one-day fall was −12.8% on Oct 28 and the biggest rise +12.3% on Oct 30. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 17.7%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1929
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1929
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Wednesday, January 2 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 33 record closing highs this year, at 307.01.
- 2
Saturday, February 2The Federal Reserve Board issues a letter warning against speculative credit. SourceDow Jones: 0.0% that day · −0.2% a month later
- 3
Monday, March 25Stocks suffer a brief crash after Federal Reserve warnings on speculation. SourceDow Jones: −2.8% that day · +1.4% a month later
- 4
Tuesday, September 3The Dow Jones Industrial Average peaks at 381.17. SourceDow Jones: +0.2% that day · −6.4% a month later
- 5
Thursday, October 24Black Thursday: a record 12.9 million shares trade on the NYSE. SourceDow Jones: −2.1% that day · −19.7% a month later
- 6
Thursday, October 24 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 381.17 (September 3, 1929).
- 7
Monday, October 28Black Monday: the Dow falls nearly 13 percent. SourceDow Jones: −12.8% that day · −20.1% a month later
- 8
Tuesday, October 29Black Tuesday: the Dow falls nearly 12 percent. SourceDow Jones: −11.7% that day · −7.3% a month later
- 9
Wednesday, October 30 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +12.3%.
- 10
Wednesday, November 13The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches an interim bottom of 198.60. SourceDow Jones: −5.3% that day · +15.9% a month later
- 11
Wednesday, November 13 From the dataBear market low: 198.69, 47.9% below the peak.
Biggest days of 1929
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30 | +12.3% | Oct 28 | −12.8% |
| Nov 14 | +9.4% | Oct 29 | −11.7% |
| Oct 31 | +5.8% | Nov 6 | −9.9% |
| Nov 15 | +5.3% | Nov 11 | −6.8% |
| Oct 5 | +5.0% | Oct 23 | −6.3% |
Volatility: 35.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 317.51 | +5.8% |
| Feb | 317.41 | 0.0% |
| Mar | 308.85 | −2.7% |
| Apr | 319.29 | +3.4% |
| May | 297.41 | −6.9% |
| Jun | 333.79 | +12.2% |
| Jul | 347.70 | +4.2% |
| Aug | 380.33 | +9.4% |
| Sep | 343.45 | −9.7% |
| Oct | 273.51 | −20.4% |
| Nov | 238.95 | −12.6% |
| Dec | 248.48 | +4.0% |
Dow Jones in 1929: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1929?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 17.2% in 1929, from 300.00 at the end of 1928 to 248.48. Its highest close was 381.17 on Sep 3 — a record that stood until November 23, 1954, and its lowest 198.69 on Nov 13. The biggest one-day fall was −12.8% on Oct 28 and the biggest rise +12.3% on Oct 30. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 17.7%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1929?
Highest: 381.17 on September 3, 1929. Lowest: 198.69 on November 13, 1929. It closed higher on 155 of 291 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on October 28, 1929?
Black Monday: the Dow falls nearly 13 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 12.8% that day, and was −20.1% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1929?
Yes — 33 record closing highs, the last at 381.17 on September 3, 1929.
Data: Daily closes since 26 May 1896. Saturday sessions were held until 1952. The NYSE was closed from 31 Jul to 11 Dec 1914. Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.
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@misc{corgano2026dowjonesin1929, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1929}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1929}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}