Lead Price in 1971
In 1971, the price of lead averaged $254 per tonne, down 16.2% from the year before. This page covers the 1971 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1971 Average
$254
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1970
-16.2%
from $303 in 1970
What happened to the lead price in 1971
Lead averaged $254 per tonne in 1971, sliding 16.2% from the $303 average of 1970.
Lead rose through the 1970s inflation era, spiking on the first oil shock and reaching around $1,200 per tonne by the 1979 metals peak.
Adjusted for inflation, lead's 1971 average of $254 equals about $2,021 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 lead in 1971?
What is a 1971 lead price worth in today's dollars?
Annual averages are World Bank and LME lead prices per tonne in US dollars (LME cash and settlement basis). The 2025 figure is preliminary. Where daily data exists, the per-year high, low, and close come from MetalCharts historical data. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.