Lead Price in 1988
In 1988, the price of lead averaged $656 per tonne, up 9.9% from the year before. This page covers the 1988 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1988 Average
$656
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1987
+9.9%
from $597 in 1987
What happened to the lead price in 1988
Lead averaged $656 per tonne in 1988, up 9.9% from $597 the year before.
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 1988 average of $656 equals about $1,787 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 1988?
What is a 1988 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.