WTI crude oil price, monthly, 1986 to 2026
WTI crude oil price, monthly stood at $72 in 2026, down 14.5% on the previous period.
The latest reading is $84.81 a barrel, for June 2026, against $102.13 a barrel in May 2026. The series is monthly (FRED series DCOILWTICO) and runs from January 1986.
How it is measured
The spot price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil at Cushing, Oklahoma, in dollars per barrel: the benchmark price for US oil. WTI is a specific light, sweet grade at a specific delivery point, which is why it can diverge from the global Brent benchmark. The data reaches us through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's data service, and originates with spot market prices compiled by the EIA.
What the curve shows
WTI has traded between $11.35 (December 1998) and $133.88 (June 2008) over the window. Oil shocks in both directions structure the world economy's story: price collapses mark demand crises and supply gluts, spikes mark wars and embargoes.
Why did the price once go negative?
WTI or Brent, which matters?
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