Lead Price in 1989
In 1989, the price of lead averaged $673 per tonne, up 2.6% from the year before. This page covers the 1989 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1989 Average
$673
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1988
+2.6%
from $656 in 1988
What happened to the lead price in 1989
Lead averaged $673 per tonne in 1989, up 2.6% from $656 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 1989 average of $673 equals about $1,749 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 1989?
What is a 1989 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.