Lead Price in 1976
In 1976, the price of lead averaged $446 per tonne, up 8.3% from the year before. This page covers the 1976 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1976 Average
$446
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1975
+8.3%
from $412 in 1975
What happened to the lead price in 1976
Lead averaged $446 per tonne in 1976, up 8.3% from $412 the year before.
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 1976 average of $446 equals about $2,526 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 1976?
What is a 1976 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.