10-Year Treasury Yield in 1979
The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.18 percentage points in 1979, from 9.15% at the end of 1978 to 10.33%. Its highest close was 11.02% on Oct 23, and its lowest 8.76% on Jul 2.
10-Year Treasury Yield, daily closes 1979
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1979
What happened, and how the 10Y yield moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, January 2 From the data10Y yield sets the first of 22 record closing highs this year, at 9.18%.
- 2
Tuesday, January 16The Shah leaves Iran during the Iranian Revolution. Source10Y yield: +0.01 pp that day · −0.03 pp a month later
- 3
Monday, August 6Paul Volcker takes office as Federal Reserve chairman. Source10Y yield: −0.01 pp that day · +0.40 pp a month later
- 4
Saturday, October 6Volcker announces the Fed will target bank reserves instead of the federal funds rate. Source10Y yield: +0.33 pp next trading day (Oct 9) · +1.40 pp a month later
- 5
Tuesday, October 23 From the dataLast record close of the year: 11.02%.
- 6
Sunday, November 4Students seize the US Embassy in Tehran, starting the Iran hostage crisis. Source10Y yield: +0.01 pp next trading day (Nov 5) · −0.71 pp a month later
- 7
Tuesday, December 25Soviet forces begin the invasion of Afghanistan. Source10Y yield: +0.03 pp next trading day (Dec 26) · +0.56 pp a month later
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.95% | −0.20 pp |
| Feb | 9.17% | +0.22 pp |
| Mar | 9.11% | −0.06 pp |
| Apr | 9.35% | +0.24 pp |
| May | 9.06% | −0.29 pp |
| Jun | 8.81% | −0.25 pp |
| Jul | 9.01% | +0.20 pp |
| Aug | 9.24% | +0.23 pp |
| Sep | 9.44% | +0.20 pp |
| Oct | 10.72% | +1.28 pp |
| Nov | 10.38% | −0.34 pp |
| Dec | 10.33% | −0.05 pp |
Other Markets in 1979
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Treasury Yield | +1.18 pp | 10.33% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1979 | +4.2% | 838.74 |
| S&P 500 in 1979 | +12.3% | 107.94 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1979 | +28.1% | 151.14 |
| Gold in 1979 | +126.5% | $512.00 |
| Silver in 1979 | +434.8% | $32.20 |
10-Year Treasury Yield in 1979: FAQ
How much did the US 10-year Treasury yield rise in 1979?
The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.18 percentage points in 1979, from 9.15% at the end of 1978 to 10.33%. Its highest close was 11.02% on Oct 23, and its lowest 8.76% on Jul 2.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the US 10-year Treasury yield in 1979?
Highest: 11.02% on October 23, 1979. Lowest: 8.76% on July 2, 1979. It closed higher on 113 of 248 trading days.
What happened to the US 10-year Treasury yield on October 6, 1979?
Volcker announces the Fed will target bank reserves instead of the federal funds rate. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.33 percentage points on the next trading day (October 9, 1979), and was +1.40 pp a month later.
Did the US 10-year Treasury yield reach a record high in 1979?
Yes — 22 record closing highs, the last at 11.02% on October 23, 1979.
Data: 10-year constant-maturity Treasury yield (Federal Reserve H.15 via FRED). 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{corgano202610yeartreasuryyieldin, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {10-Year Treasury Yield in 1979}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/us-10y/1979}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}