Lead Price in 1998
In 1998, the price of lead averaged $529 per tonne, down 15.2% from the year before. This page covers the 1998 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that lead would be worth in today's dollars.
1998 Average
$529
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1997
-15.2%
from $624 in 1997
What happened to the lead price in 1998
Lead averaged $529 per tonne in 1998, sliding 15.2% from the $624 average of 1997.
Lead peaked early in the decade around $810, then drifted lower through the 1990s on oversupply and the Asian financial crisis.
Adjusted for inflation, lead's 1998 average of $529 equals about $1,046 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 1998?
What is a 1998 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.