Copper Price in 1990

In 1990, the price of copper averaged $1.21 per pound, down 6.2% from the year before. This page covers the 1990 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that copper would be worth in today's dollars.

1990 Average

$1.21

LME/COMEX annual average, USD/lb

Change vs 1989

-6.2%

from $1.29 in 1989

1990 High

$1.34

from daily trading data

1990 Low

$0.96

from daily trading data

Year-End Close

$1.17

last trading day of 1990

What happened to the copper price in 1990

Copper averaged $1.21 per pound in 1990, down 6.2% from $1.29 the year before. Daily trading data shows copper moved between a low of $0.96 and a high of $1.34 during the year, ending 1990 at $1.17. The notable development of 1990: Gulf War; mild recession.

The 1990s were choppy and ultimately weak. Copper rallied mid-decade before the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, the Russian default, and the LTCM collapse hammered industrial demand, leaving copper near a twelve-year low around $0.71 by 1999.

Adjusted for inflation, copper's 1990 average of $1.21 equals about $2.98 in today's dollars. The conversion uses US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the price of copper in 1990?

Copper averaged $1.21 per pound in 1990, based on LME and COMEX annual average data. Daily prices ranged from a low of $0.96 to a high of $1.34, and the year closed at $1.17. That average was down 6.2% from $1.29 in 1989.

What is a 1990 copper price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, copper's 1990 average of $1.21 works out to roughly $2.98 in today's dollars, using 2025 as the CPI base year. The conversion uses BLS CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.

What moved the copper price in 1990?

The defining story of 1990: Gulf War; mild recession. Against that backdrop, the annual average fell 6.2%, from $1.29 in 1989 to $1.21.

Annual averages are LME and COMEX copper prices per pound in US dollars. Where shown, the yearly high, low, and close come from MetalCharts daily historical data and may differ slightly from figures published elsewhere. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.