Lead Price in 1982
In 1982, the price of lead averaged $546 per tonne, down 24.9% from the year before. This page covers the 1982 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1982 Average
$546
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1981
-24.9%
from $727 in 1981
What happened to the lead price in 1982
Lead averaged $546 per tonne in 1982, sliding 24.9% from the $727 average of 1981.
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 1982 average of $546 equals about $1,824 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 1982?
What is a 1982 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.