Lead Price in 1972
In 1972, the price of lead averaged $302 per tonne, up 18.9% from the year before. This page covers the 1972 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1972 Average
$302
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1971
+18.9%
from $254 in 1971
What happened to the lead price in 1972
Lead averaged $302 per tonne in 1972, climbing 18.9% from the $254 average of 1971.
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 1972 average of $302 equals about $2,329 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 1972?
What is a 1972 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.