Platinum Price in 1981
In 1981, the price of platinum averaged $446 per troy ounce, down 34.1% from the year before. This page covers the 1981 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that platinum would be worth in today's dollars.
1981 Average
$446
LBMA annual average, USD/oz
Change vs 1980
-34.1%
from $677 in 1980
What happened to the platinum price in 1981
Platinum averaged $446 per troy ounce in 1981, collapsing 34.1% from the $677 average of 1980.
The 1980s were volatile for platinum. The metal spiked with the broader 1980 precious-metals mania, then collapsed as recession gutted automotive demand, before recovering late in the decade on South African supply fears and steadily growing catalytic-converter use.
Adjusted for inflation, platinum's 1981 average of $446 equals about $1,581 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 platinum in 1981?
What is a 1981 platinum price worth in today's dollars?
Annual averages are LBMA and Johnson Matthey platinum prices per troy ounce in US dollars. Where shown, the yearly high, low, and close come from MetalCharts daily historical data and may differ slightly from figures published elsewhere. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.