Commodities · 23 World Bank prices · 1960–2026
Commodity prices since 1960
Monthly World Bank prices of metals, energy and farm products in US dollars, from 1960 to October 2026. Switch to “After inflation” to compare them in today's dollars.
In US dollars of the time
All 20 prices that go back to 1960 are higher now, from ×2.8 (tea) to ×116 (gold). US consumer prices are 11.4 times their 1960 level: after inflation, 12 of the 20 are lower than in 1960. Compared: each price's 1960 average with October 2026.
US consumer prices: ×11.4 since 1960
Metals: all 6 prices are higher than in 1960 In dollars, from ×5.98 (aluminum) to ×116 (gold). After inflation, 4 of 6 are higher: gold ×10.3, silver ×5.49, copper +88% and platinum +71%; lower: nickel −17% and aluminum −47%. Shorter series: iron ore +31% since 2006 (−21% after inflation).
Energy: all 4 prices are higher than in 1960 In dollars, from ×21.1 (US natural gas) to ×76.7 (Brent crude). After inflation, all 4 are higher: from +86% (US natural gas) to ×6.75 (Brent crude). Shorter series: WTI crude ×2.98 since 1982 (−14% after inflation) and coal ×19.5 since 1970 (×2.26 after inflation).
Farm products: all 10 prices are higher than in 1960 In dollars, from ×2.8 (tea) to ×9.76 (cocoa). After inflation, all 10 are lower: from −75% (tea) to −14% (cocoa).
Start and end dates matter: commodity prices swing a lot from year to year. Each commodity's page has the changes over 10, 20 and 30 years and the averages by decade and by year.
Metals 7
Energy 6
Farm products 10
All prices in one table
Click a column header to sort. Changes compare the average of the first year of data with the latest month; “after inflation” means adjusted for US consumer prices. With “After inflation” on, the table also compares the latest price with its average over all the years, both in today's dollars.
| Commodity | Group | Price, Oct 2026 | Unit | From | Change | After inflation | All-time high | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Metals | $4,105 | $/troy oz | 1960 | ×116 | ×10.3 | Feb 2026 | |
| Silver | Metals | $57.00 | $/troy oz | 1960 | ×62.4 | ×5.49 | Jan 2026 | |
| Platinum | Metals | $1,621 | $/troy oz | 1960 | ×19.4 | +71% | Jan 2026 | |
| Copper | Metals | $14,508 | $/mt | 1960 | ×21.4 | +88% | Oct 2026 | |
| Aluminum | Metals | $3,061 | $/mt | 1960 | ×5.98 | −47% | May 2026 | |
| Nickel | Metals | $15,436 | $/mt | 1960 | ×9.46 | −17% | May 2007 | |
| Iron ore | Metals | $90.80 | $/dmt | 2006 | +31% | −21% | Jun 2021 | |
| Brent crude oil | Energy | $125 | $/bbl | 1960 | ×76.7 | ×6.75 | Jul 2008 | |
| WTI crude oil | Energy | $97.70 | $/bbl | 1982 | ×2.98 | −14% | Jun 2008 | |
| Crude oil, average | Energy | $108 | $/bbl | 1960 | ×66.6 | ×5.86 | Jul 2008 | |
| Natural gas, US | Energy | $2.96 | $/mmbtu | 1960 | ×21.1 | +86% | Oct 2005 | |
| Natural gas, Europe | Energy | $28.50 | $/mmbtu | 1960 | ×70.4 | ×6.2 | Aug 2022 | |
| Coal, Australia | Energy | $152 | $/mt | 1970 | ×19.5 | ×2.26 | Sep 2022 | |
| Wheat | Farm products | $317 | $/mt | 1960 | ×5.47 | −52% | May 2022 | |
| Maize (corn) | Farm products | $226 | $/mt | 1960 | ×5.09 | −55% | Apr 2022 | |
| Rice | Farm products | $489 | $/mt | 1960 | ×4.56 | −60% | Apr 2008 | |
| Soybeans | Farm products | $515 | $/mt | 1960 | ×5.61 | −51% | Jun 2022 | |
| Coffee, Arabica | Farm products | $7.40 | $/kg | 1960 | ×8.01 | −29% | Feb 2025 | |
| Coffee, Robusta | Farm products | $3.63 | $/kg | 1960 | ×5.22 | −54% | Apr 1977 | |
| Cocoa | Farm products | $5.75 | $/kg | 1960 | ×9.76 | −14% | Jan 2025 | |
| Sugar | Farm products | $0.43 | $/kg | 1960 | ×6.49 | −43% | Nov 1974 | |
| Tea | Farm products | $2.88 | $/kg | 1960 | ×2.8 | −75% | Aug 2022 | |
| Cotton | Farm products | $2.00 | $/kg | 1960 | ×3.06 | −73% | Mar 2011 |
Source: World Bank, Commodity Price Data (Pink Sheet), CC BY 4.0. Inflation adjustment: US CPI (Robert Shiller / BLS).
How it is calculated
- Prices: World Bank Commodity Price Data (the “Pink Sheet”), monthly averages in US dollars, edition updated November 3, 2026, published under CC BY 4.0.
- After inflation (the switch at the top of the page) shows prices in October 2026 dollars: each month's price × CPI of October 2026 ÷ CPI of that month. CPI is the US consumer price index (CPI-U) from Robert Shiller's dataset, which uses the BLS figures. Shiller marks the latest CPI as an estimate (“Sept/Oct CPI estimated”), so prices after inflation may shift slightly when the final figures come out.
- Years with one figure: for some early years the World Bank gives one price per year and repeats it in every month. Such a year is one point on the charts; after inflation it is adjusted with that year's average CPI.
- Changes compare the average of the first year of data (usually 1960) with the latest month, Oct 2026; changes over 10, 20 and 30 years compare the same month. Commodity prices swing a lot, so start and end dates matter.