Lead Price in 1981
In 1981, the price of lead averaged $727 per tonne, down 19.8% from the year before. This page covers the 1981 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1981 Average
$727
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1980
-19.8%
from $906 in 1980
What happened to the lead price in 1981
Lead averaged $727 per tonne in 1981, sliding 19.8% from the $906 average of 1980.
A deep early-1980s recession and the mid-decade cyclical low pressured lead, which bottomed near $390 in 1985 before recovering.
Adjusted for inflation, lead's 1981 average of $727 equals about $2,578 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 1981?
What is a 1981 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.