Lead Price in 1973
In 1973, the price of lead averaged $430 per tonne, up 42.4% from the year before. This page covers the 1973 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1973 Average
$430
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1972
+42.4%
from $302 in 1972
What happened to the lead price in 1973
Lead averaged $430 per tonne in 1973, climbing 42.4% from the $302 average of 1972.
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 1973 average of $430 equals about $3,121 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 1973?
What is a 1973 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.