Lead Price in 1974

In 1974, the price of lead averaged $592 per tonne, up 37.7% from the year before. This page covers the 1974 average, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.

1974 Average

$592

LME annual average, USD/tonne

Change vs 1973

+37.7%

from $430 in 1973

Lead Price Chart, 1970 to 1990

Annual average lead price per tonne, 1970 to 1990, with 1974 marked.

What happened to the lead price in 1974

Lead averaged $592 per tonne in 1974, climbing 37.7% from the $430 average of 1973. The defining story of 1974: First oil-shock commodity boom; sharp rise.

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 1974 average of $592 equals about $3,870 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 1974?

Lead averaged $592 per tonne in 1974, based on World Bank and LME annual average data. That average was up 37.7% from $430 in 1973.

What is a 1974 lead price worth in today's dollars?

Adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index, lead's 1974 average of $592 works out to roughly $3,870 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 lead price in 1974?

The defining story of 1974: First oil-shock commodity boom; sharp rise. Against that backdrop, the annual average climbed 37.7%, from $430 in 1973 to $592.

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.