Lead Price in 1987
In 1987, the price of lead averaged $597 per tonne, up 47.0% from the year before. This page covers the 1987 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1987 Average
$597
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1986
+47.0%
from $406 in 1986
What happened to the lead price in 1987
Lead averaged $597 per tonne in 1987, climbing 47.0% from the $406 average of 1986.
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 1987 average of $597 equals about $1,694 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 1987?
What is a 1987 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.