Lead Price in 1983
In 1983, the price of lead averaged $425 per tonne, down 22.2% from the year before. This page covers the 1983 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1983 Average
$425
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1982
-22.2%
from $546 in 1982
What happened to the lead price in 1983
Lead averaged $425 per tonne in 1983, sliding 22.2% from the $546 average of 1982.
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 1983 average of $425 equals about $1,375 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 1983?
What is a 1983 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.