Oil Price (WTI) in 2006
The oil price (WTI) fell 0.3% in 2006, from $61.06 at the end of 2005 to $60.85. Its highest close was $77.05 on Aug 7 — a record that stood until July 31, 2007, and its lowest $55.90 on Nov 17. The biggest one-day fall was −4.8% on Apr 24 and the biggest rise +6.3% on Apr 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 2.8%.
Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 2006
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 2006
What happened, and how the WTI oil moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, April 17 From the dataWTI oil sets the first of 10 record closing highs this year, at $70.30. WTI oil closes above $70 for the first time ($70.30).
- 2
Monday, April 24 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −4.8%.
- 3
Wednesday, April 26 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +6.3%.
- 4
Monday, August 7 From the dataLast record close of the year: $77.05.
- 5
Wednesday, September 20 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $77.05 (August 7, 2006).
Biggest days of 2006
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | +6.3% | Apr 24 | −4.8% |
| Feb 24 | +5.9% | Nov 16 | −4.4% |
| Nov 27 | +5.3% | Mar 20 | −4.0% |
| Jan 17 | +3.9% | Apr 25 | −3.9% |
| Sep 27 | +3.8% | Oct 30 | −3.9% |
Volatility: 29.2% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $67.86 | +11.1% |
| Feb | $61.37 | −9.6% |
| Mar | $66.25 | +8.0% |
| Apr | $71.80 | +8.4% |
| May | $71.42 | −0.5% |
| Jun | $73.94 | +3.5% |
| Jul | $74.56 | +0.8% |
| Aug | $70.38 | −5.6% |
| Sep | $62.90 | −10.6% |
| Oct | $58.72 | −6.6% |
| Nov | $62.97 | +7.2% |
| Dec | $60.85 | −3.4% |
Other Markets in 2006
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Price (WTI) | −0.3% | $60.85 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2006 | +16.3% | 12,463.15 |
| S&P 500 in 2006 | +13.6% | 1,418.30 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 2006 | +9.5% | 2,415.29 |
| Russell 2000 in 2006 | +17.0% | 787.66 |
| Nikkei 225 in 2006 | +6.9% | 17,225.83 |
| Gold in 2006 | +23.2% | $632.00 |
| Silver in 2006 | +46.1% | $12.90 |
| Brent crude oil in 2006 | +1.1% | $58.96 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 2006 | +0.32 pp | 4.71% |
Oil Price (WTI) in 2006: FAQ
How much did the oil price (WTI) fall in 2006?
The oil price (WTI) fell 0.3% in 2006, from $61.06 at the end of 2005 to $60.85. Its highest close was $77.05 on Aug 7 — a record that stood until July 31, 2007, and its lowest $55.90 on Nov 17. The biggest one-day fall was −4.8% on Apr 24 and the biggest rise +6.3% on Apr 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 2.8%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 2006?
Highest: $77.05 on August 7, 2006. Lowest: $55.90 on November 17, 2006. It closed higher on 129 of 250 trading days.
Did the oil price (WTI) reach a record high in 2006?
Yes — 10 record closing highs, the last at $77.05 on August 7, 2006.
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 2006}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/oil-wti/2006}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}