10-Year Treasury Yield in 1981
The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.55 percentage points in 1981, from 12.43% at the end of 1980 to 13.98%. Its highest close was 15.84% on Sep 30, and its lowest 12.11% on Jan 6.
10-Year Treasury Yield, daily closes 1981
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1981
What happened, and how the 10Y yield moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, January 20Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. Source10Y yield: −0.14 pp that day · +0.45 pp a month later
- 2
Monday, April 6 From the data10Y yield sets the first of 23 record closing highs this year, at 13.74%.
- 3
Wednesday, September 3010-year Treasury yield closes at an all-time high of 15.84%. Source10Y yield: +0.08 pp that day · −0.70 pp a month later
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12.68% | +0.25 pp |
| Feb | 13.43% | +0.75 pp |
| Mar | 13.13% | −0.30 pp |
| Apr | 14.11% | +0.98 pp |
| May | 13.50% | −0.61 pp |
| Jun | 13.86% | +0.36 pp |
| Jul | 14.67% | +0.81 pp |
| Aug | 15.41% | +0.74 pp |
| Sep | 15.84% | +0.43 pp |
| Oct | 14.63% | −1.21 pp |
| Nov | 13.13% | −1.50 pp |
| Dec | 13.98% | +0.85 pp |
Other Markets in 1981
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Treasury Yield | +1.55 pp | 13.98% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1981 | −9.2% | 875.00 |
| S&P 500 in 1981 | −9.7% | 122.55 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1981 | −3.2% | 195.84 |
| Gold in 1981 | −32.6% | $397.50 |
| Silver in 1981 | −47.4% | $8.15 |
10-Year Treasury Yield in 1981: FAQ
How much did the US 10-year Treasury yield rise in 1981?
The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.55 percentage points in 1981, from 12.43% at the end of 1980 to 13.98%. Its highest close was 15.84% on Sep 30, and its lowest 12.11% on Jan 6.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the US 10-year Treasury yield in 1981?
Highest: 15.84% on September 30, 1981. Lowest: 12.11% on January 6, 1981. It closed higher on 132 of 249 trading days.
What happened to the US 10-year Treasury yield on January 20, 1981?
Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell 0.14 percentage points that day, and was +0.45 pp a month later.
Did the US 10-year Treasury yield reach a record high in 1981?
Yes — 23 record closing highs, the last at 15.84% on September 30, 1981.
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 1981}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/us-10y/1981}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}