Oil Price (WTI) in 1996
The oil price (WTI) rose 32.5% in 1996, from $19.54 at the end of 1995 to $25.90. Its highest close was $26.55 on Dec 19, and its lowest $17.33 on Jan 29. The biggest one-day fall was −8.3% on Apr 26 and the biggest rise +10.0% on Feb 20. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 28.3%.
Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 1996
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1996
What happened, and how the WTI oil moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, February 20 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +10.0%.
- 2
Monday, March 18 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $23.03 (June 24, 1992).
- 3
Tuesday, March 19 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $24.12 (October 18, 1991).
- 4
Friday, April 26 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −8.3%.
- 5
Thursday, May 30 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $25.15 (April 11, 1996).
- 6
Wednesday, June 5 From the dataBear market low: $19.73, 21.6% below the peak.
- 7
Monday, October 7 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $25.15 (April 11, 1996).
- 8
Friday, October 18 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $25.63 (January 24, 1991).
Biggest days of 1996
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20 | +10.0% | Apr 26 | −8.3% |
| May 20 | +7.9% | Nov 26 | −8.0% |
| Nov 25 | +6.6% | Mar 20 | −7.4% |
| Mar 19 | +5.7% | Feb 26 | −7.2% |
| Jun 17 | +5.7% | Feb 23 | −5.3% |
Volatility: 40.2% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $17.76 | −9.1% |
| Feb | $19.59 | +10.3% |
| Mar | $21.43 | +9.4% |
| Apr | $20.95 | −2.2% |
| May | $19.77 | −5.6% |
| Jun | $20.92 | +5.8% |
| Jul | $20.46 | −2.2% |
| Aug | $22.25 | +8.7% |
| Sep | $24.20 | +8.8% |
| Oct | $23.25 | −3.9% |
| Nov | $23.70 | +1.9% |
| Dec | $25.90 | +9.3% |
Other Markets in 1996
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Price (WTI) | +32.5% | $25.90 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996 | +26.0% | 6,448.26 |
| S&P 500 in 1996 | +20.3% | 740.74 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1996 | +22.7% | 1,291.03 |
| Russell 2000 in 1996 | +14.8% | 362.61 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1996 | −2.6% | 19,361.00 |
| Gold in 1996 | −4.6% | $369.25 |
| Silver in 1996 | −7.0% | $4.77 |
| Brent crude oil in 1996 | +28.2% | $23.90 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1996 | +0.85 pp | 6.43% |
Oil Price (WTI) in 1996: FAQ
How much did the oil price (WTI) rise in 1996?
The oil price (WTI) rose 32.5% in 1996, from $19.54 at the end of 1995 to $25.90. Its highest close was $26.55 on Dec 19, and its lowest $17.33 on Jan 29. The biggest one-day fall was −8.3% on Apr 26 and the biggest rise +10.0% on Feb 20. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 28.3%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 1996?
Highest: $26.55 on December 19, 1996. Lowest: $17.33 on January 29, 1996. It closed higher on 140 of 254 trading days.
Data: WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that. 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.
Cite this page
For essays, articles and research. Prices on this page update daily, so the citations include today's date as the date you accessed it.
@misc{corgano2026oilpricewtiin, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Oil Price (WTI) in 1996}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/oil-wti/1996}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}