Lead Price in 1978
In 1978, the price of lead averaged $662 per tonne, up 7.1% from the year before. This page covers the 1978 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1978 Average
$662
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1977
+7.1%
from $618 in 1977
What happened to the lead price in 1978
Lead averaged $662 per tonne in 1978, up 7.1% from $618 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 1978 average of $662 equals about $3,272 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 1978?
What is a 1978 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.