The 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 68.24 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of May. This would be eight U.S. dollars below the 2024 average and the lowest annual average since 2021. WTI and other benchmarks WTI is a grade of crude oil also known as “Texas light sweet.” It is measured to have an API gravity of around 39.6 and specific gravity of about 0.83, which is considered “light” relative to other crude oils. This oil also contains roughly 0.24 percent sulfur, and is therefore named “sweet.” Crude oils are some of the most closely observed commodity prices in the world. WTI is the underlying commodity of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s oil futures contracts. The price of other crude oils, such as UK Brent crude oil, the OPEC crude oil basket, and Dubai Fateh oil, can be compared to that of WTI crude oil. Since 1976, the price of WTI crude oil has increased notably, rising from just 12.23 U.S. dollars per barrel in 1976 to a peak of 99.06 dollars per barrel in 2008. Geopolitical conflicts and their impact on oil prices The price of oil is controlled in part by limiting oil production. Prior to 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission controlled the price of oil by setting limits on production of U.S. oil. In 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission ceased limiting production, but OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries with member states Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela among others, continued to do so. In 1972, due to geopolitical conflict, OPEC set an oil embargo and cut oil production, causing prices to quadruple by 1974. Oil prices rose again in 1979 and 1980 due to the Iranian revolution, and doubled between 1978 and 1981 as the Iran-Iraq War prevented oil production. A number of geopolitical conflicts and periods of increased production and consumption have influenced the price of oil since then.
In May 2025, the price for one barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged 62.17 U.S. dollars. This was a decrease compared to the previous month and the lowest figure in the past 24-month period amid continued weak demand outlooks. WTI and other benchmark crudes WTI is also known as "Texas light sweet", and is a grade of crude oil used as a benchmark for oil produced in the United States. It has an API gravity of around 39.6 and specific gravity of about 0.827, which, relative to other crude oils, is considered “light,” hence the name. WTI also contains about 0.24 percent sulfur, making it a “sweet” crude oil. The price of WTI can be compared to the prices other of crude oils, i.e. UK Brent, the OPEC basket, and Dubai Fateh oil. WTI crude oil is the underlying commodity of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s oil futures contracts. U.S. oil production and its influence on light oil prices The price development of WTI crude oil relative to Brent crude oil has been influenced by variances in U.S. crude oil transportation and increased U.S. oil production. New transportation infrastructure became operational in early 2013, easing the movement of crude oil in the mid-continent and raising the price of WTI. Since then, U.S. refineries have increased production of crude oil to record levels, also raising the price of WTI. Meanwhile, expedited crude transport in the U.S. put downward pressure on Brent crude oil as domestic crude replaced some imported Brent crude. Between 2014 and 2016, UK Brent prices dropped rapidly, as was the case for all other crude oils.
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Graph and download economic data for Spot Crude Oil Price: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) (WTISPLC) from Jan 1946 to Jun 2025 about WTI, crude, oil, price, and USA.
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Interactive chart showing the daily closing price for West Texas Intermediate (NYMEX) Crude Oil over the last 10 years. The prices shown are in U.S. dollars.
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Crude Oil rose to 68.75 USD/Bbl on July 11, 2025, up 3.27% from the previous day. Over the past month, Crude Oil's price has risen 1.04%, but it is still 16.37% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Crude Oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.
The annual price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is expected to reach an average of 61.81 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2025, according to a May 2025 forecast. This would be a decrease of roughly 15 U.S. dollar compared to the previous year. In the first months weeks of 2025, weekly crude oil prices largely stayed below 70 U.S. dollars per barrel amid trade tariffs and expected economic downturn. What are benchmark crudes? WTI is often used as a price reference point called a benchmark (or ”marker”) crude. This category includes Brent crude from the North Sea, Dubai Crude, as well as blends in the OPEC reference basket. WTI, Brent, and the OPEC basket have tended to trade closely, but since 2011, Brent has been selling at a higher annual spot price than WTI, largely due to increased oil production in the United States. What causes price volatility? Oil prices are historically volatile. While mostly shaped by demand and supply like all consumer goods, they may also be affected by production limits, a change in U.S. dollar value, and to an extent by market speculation. In 2022, the annual average price for WTI was close to the peak of nearly 100 U.S. dollars recorded in 2008. In the latter year, multiple factors, such as strikes in Nigeria, an oil sale stop in Venezuela, and the continuous increase in oil demand from China were partly responsible for the price surge. Higher oil prices allowed the pursuit of extraction methods previously deemed too expensive and risky, such as shale gas and tight oil production in the U.S. The widespread practice of fracturing source rocks for oil and gas extraction led to the oil glut in 2016 and made the U.S. the largest oil producer in the world.
On July 7, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 69.62 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 67.93 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 69.92 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. Prices rose slightly that week, following signs of an increase in demand.Europe's Brent crude oil, the U.S. WTI crude oil, and OPEC's basket are three of the most important benchmarks used by traders as reference for oil and gasoline prices. Lowest ever oil prices during coronavirus pandemic In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in crude oil prices hitting a major slump as oil demand drastically declined following lockdowns and travel restrictions. Initial outlooks and uncertainty surrounding the course of the pandemic brought about a disagreement between two of the largest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, in early March. Bilateral talks between global oil producers ended in agreement on April 13th, with promises to cut petroleum output and hopes rising that these might help stabilize the oil price in the coming weeks. However, with storage facilities and oil tankers quickly filling up, fears grew over where to store excess oil, leading to benchmark prices seeing record negative prices between April 20 and April 22, 2020. How crude oil prices are determined As with most commodities, crude oil prices are impacted by supply and demand, as well as inventories and market sentiment. However, as oil is most often traded in future contracts (whereby a contract is agreed upon, while the product delivery will follow in the next two to three months), market speculation is one of the principal determinants for oil prices. Traders make conclusions on how production output and consumer demand will likely develop over the coming months, leaving room for uncertainty. Spot prices differ from futures in so far as they reflect the current market price of a commodity.
This dataset contains information about daily spot prices for crude oil WTI and Brent from 1986. data from US Energy Information AdministrationNotes:Citation: "Spot Prices For Crude Oil And Petroleum Products". Eia.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
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Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data was reported at 54.680 USD/Barrel in Jun 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.730 USD/Barrel for May 2019. Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data is updated monthly, averaging 75.215 USD/Barrel from Jan 2010 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 114 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 109.890 USD/Barrel in Apr 2011 and a record low of 30.330 USD/Barrel in Feb 2016. Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ecuador. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.P001: Crude Oil Prices.
The 2025 annual OPEC oil price stood at ***** U.S. dollars per barrel, as of May. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which amounted to ***** U.S. dollars. The abbreviation OPEC stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and includes Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the OPEC is to coordinate the oil policies of its member states. It was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The OPEC Reference Basket The OPEC crude oil price is defined by the price of the so-called OPEC (Reference) basket. This basket is an average of prices of the various petroleum blends that are produced by the OPEC members. Some of these oil blends are, for example: Saharan Blend from Algeria, Basra Light from Iraq, Arab Light from Saudi Arabia, BCF 17 from Venezuela, et cetera. By increasing and decreasing its oil production, OPEC tries to keep the price between a given maxima and minima. Benchmark crude oil The OPEC basket is one of the most important benchmarks for crude oil prices worldwide. Other significant benchmarks are UK Brent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), and Dubai Crude (Fateh). Because there are many types and grades of oil, such benchmarks are indispensable for referencing them on the global oil market. The 2025 fall in prices was the result of weakened demand outlooks exacerbated by extensive U.S. trade tariffs.
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Europe Brent and WTI (Western Texas Intermediate) Spot Prices (Annual/ Monthly/ Weekly/ Daily) from EIA U.S. (Energy Information Administration).
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As of May 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 72 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is some eight U.S. dollars lower than the 2024 average. Brent is the world's leading price benchmark for Atlantic basin crude oils. Crude oil is one of the most closely observed commodity prices as it influences costs across all stages of the production process and consequently alters the price of consumer goods as well. What determines crude oil benchmarks? In the past decade, crude oil prices have been especially volatile. Their inherent inelasticity regarding short-term changes in demand and supply means that oil prices are erratic by nature. However, since the 2009 financial crisis, many commercial developments have greatly contributed to price volatility; such as economic growth by BRIC countries like China and India, and the advent of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the U.S. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are examples of geopolitical events dictating prices. Light crude oils - Brent and WTI Brent Crude is considered a classification of sweet light crude oil and acts as a benchmark price for oil around the world. It is considered a sweet light crude oil due to its low sulfur content and a low density and may be easily refined into gasoline. This oil originates in the North Sea and comprises several different oil blends, including Brent Blend and Ekofisk crude. Often, this crude oil is refined in Northwest Europe. Another sweet light oil often referenced alongside UK Brent is West Texas Intermediate (WTI). WTI oil prices amounted to 76.55 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2024.
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Germany Commodity Price: Energy Resources: WTI Crude Oil data was reported at 61.800 USD/Barrel in 16 May 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 61.803 USD/Barrel for 15 May 2025. Germany Commodity Price: Energy Resources: WTI Crude Oil data is updated daily, averaging 66.802 USD/Barrel from Jan 2013 (Median) to 16 May 2025, with 3134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 124.851 USD/Barrel in 08 Mar 2022 and a record low of 10.145 USD/Barrel in 21 Apr 2020. Germany Commodity Price: Energy Resources: WTI Crude Oil data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Deutsche Börse Group. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.P: Commodity Prices. [COVID-19-IMPACT]
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Brent rose to 70.45 USD/Bbl on July 14, 2025, up 0.12% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has fallen 3.80%, and is down 16.98% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Brent crude oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.
In May 2025, the average price of one barrel of Brent crude oil was 64.45 U.S. dollars. This was nearly four U.S. dollars below prices the previous month and the lowest value in the past 24-month period, as demand for oil was expected to stagnate in the coming months. Brent terminology and most common uses Brent is the world's leading price benchmark for Atlantic basin crude oils. It is used to price two thirds of the internationally traded crude oil supplies and is also the most significant crude oil benchmark for Europe. Brent crude originates in the North Sea and includes oils from Brent and Forties Oil Field in the United Kingdom, and from the Oseborg and Ekofisk oil fields, both oil reserves in Norway. Other names for Brent are Brent Blend, London Brent and Brent petroleum. The name Brent comes from the Brent oil field, located north-east of the Shetland Islands, and thus part of the United Kingdom. Because the Brent oil field already passed its production peak, today the benchmark Brent includes oil from the other three major oil fields. Brent, next to West Texas Intermediate (WTI), is one of the lightest crude oils. With a low content of sulfur, it is ranged among the so-called sweet crude oils. Most of the Brent crude oil is refined into gasoline and middle distillates in Northwest Europe. Benchmark oil prices Other crucial benchmarks for crude oil prices are the already mentioned U.S.- WTI and Dubai Crude (Fateh). They are indispensable for referencing the many types and grades of oil on the global market. In the past 20 years, the annual price for one barrel of Brent crude oil saw a net increase. For example, the average price per barrel stood at 80.53 U.S. dollars in 2024.
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CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI data was reported at 71.430 USD/Barrel in Dec 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 71.010 USD/Barrel for Sep 2028. CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI data is updated quarterly, averaging 59.350 USD/Barrel from Dec 2015 (Median) to Dec 2028, with 53 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.430 USD/Barrel in Dec 2028 and a record low of 36.590 USD/Barrel in Mar 2016. CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P005: Crude Oil Price: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.
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United States EIA Forecast: Crude Oil Price: WTI Spot Average data was reported at 67.000 USD/Barrel in Dec 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 67.000 USD/Barrel for Nov 2019. United States EIA Forecast: Crude Oil Price: WTI Spot Average data is updated monthly, averaging 58.250 USD/Barrel from Mar 2016 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.000 USD/Barrel in Oct 2018 and a record low of 32.000 USD/Barrel in Mar 2016. United States EIA Forecast: Crude Oil Price: WTI Spot Average data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.P003: Energy Price: Forecast: Energy Information Administration.
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Commodity Prices: Avg: Crude Oil: WTI data was reported at 68.000 USD/Barrel in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 71.250 USD/Barrel for Feb 2025. Commodity Prices: Avg: Crude Oil: WTI data is updated monthly, averaging 34.400 USD/Barrel from May 1983 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 503 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 133.930 USD/Barrel in Jun 2008 and a record low of 11.300 USD/Barrel in Dec 1998. Commodity Prices: Avg: Crude Oil: WTI data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Chile. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chile – Table CL.P005: Crude Oil Price. [COVID-19-IMPACT]
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CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI: Annual data was reported at 70.800 USD/Barrel in 2028. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.140 USD/Barrel for 2027. CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI: Annual data is updated yearly, averaging 58.885 USD/Barrel from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2028, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.800 USD/Barrel in 2028 and a record low of 42.790 USD/Barrel in 2016. CBO Projection: Crude Oil Price: WTI: Annual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P005: Crude Oil Price: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.
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Urals Oil rose to 66.46 USD/Bbl on July 11, 2025, up 2.31% from the previous day. Over the past month, Urals Oil's price has risen 2.96%, but it is still 18.42% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Urals Crude.
The 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 68.24 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of May. This would be eight U.S. dollars below the 2024 average and the lowest annual average since 2021. WTI and other benchmarks WTI is a grade of crude oil also known as “Texas light sweet.” It is measured to have an API gravity of around 39.6 and specific gravity of about 0.83, which is considered “light” relative to other crude oils. This oil also contains roughly 0.24 percent sulfur, and is therefore named “sweet.” Crude oils are some of the most closely observed commodity prices in the world. WTI is the underlying commodity of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s oil futures contracts. The price of other crude oils, such as UK Brent crude oil, the OPEC crude oil basket, and Dubai Fateh oil, can be compared to that of WTI crude oil. Since 1976, the price of WTI crude oil has increased notably, rising from just 12.23 U.S. dollars per barrel in 1976 to a peak of 99.06 dollars per barrel in 2008. Geopolitical conflicts and their impact on oil prices The price of oil is controlled in part by limiting oil production. Prior to 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission controlled the price of oil by setting limits on production of U.S. oil. In 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission ceased limiting production, but OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries with member states Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela among others, continued to do so. In 1972, due to geopolitical conflict, OPEC set an oil embargo and cut oil production, causing prices to quadruple by 1974. Oil prices rose again in 1979 and 1980 due to the Iranian revolution, and doubled between 1978 and 1981 as the Iran-Iraq War prevented oil production. A number of geopolitical conflicts and periods of increased production and consumption have influenced the price of oil since then.