Historical S&P 500 monthly price returns from 1928 to present, including seasonal patterns, positive and negative month frequency, and current-month performance.
Through 2026-10-05
Current month through 2026-10-05
Current month through 2026-10-05
So far, this month's closing-price drawdown is shallower than every completed historical October observation in the dataset.
Frequency and average-return statistics use completed calendar months only. The current partial month is excluded.
Positive historical months
Negative historical months
Historical monthly average
Historical monthly average
Historical average price return for each calendar month.
Positive frequency, negative frequency and historical return characteristics for each calendar month.
| Month | Observations | Positive | Negative | Flat | Positive % | Negative % | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 99 | 62 | 37 | 0 | 62.63% | 37.37% | +1.21% | +1.55% |
| February | 99 | 51 | 48 | 0 | 51.52% | 48.48% | -0.11% | +0.20% |
| March | 99 | 60 | 39 | 0 | 60.61% | 39.39% | +0.42% | +1.00% |
| April | 99 | 65 | 34 | 0 | 65.66% | 34.34% | +1.36% | +0.94% |
| May | 99 | 60 | 39 | 0 | 60.61% | 39.39% | +0.13% | +1.07% |
| June | 99 | 56 | 43 | 0 | 56.57% | 43.43% | +0.79% | +0.30% |
| July | 99 | 60 | 39 | 0 | 60.61% | 39.39% | +1.67% | +1.62% |
| August | 99 | 58 | 41 | 0 | 58.59% | 41.41% | +0.70% | +0.88% |
| September | 99 | 44 | 54 | 1 | 44.44% | 54.55% | -1.11% | -0.45% |
| October | 98 | 58 | 40 | 0 | 59.18% | 40.82% | +0.55% | +1.03% |
| November | 98 | 61 | 37 | 0 | 62.24% | 37.76% | +1.01% | +1.63% |
| December | 98 | 71 | 27 | 0 | 72.45% | 27.55% | +1.27% | +1.48% |
Calendar-month price returns across the complete available history.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +1.4% | -0.9% | -5.1% | +10.4% | +5.1% | -1.1% | -0.1% | +2.6% | -0.5% | +1.6% | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.7% | -1.4% | -5.8% | -0.8% | +6.2% | +5.0% | +2.2% | +1.9% | +3.5% | +2.3% | +0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | +1.6% | +5.2% | +3.1% | -4.2% | +4.8% | +3.5% | +1.1% | +2.3% | +2.0% | -1.0% | +5.7% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | +6.2% | -2.6% | +3.5% | +1.5% | +0.2% | +6.5% | +3.1% | -1.8% | -4.9% | -2.2% | +8.9% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | -5.3% | -3.1% | +3.6% | -8.8% | +0.0% | -8.4% | +9.1% | -4.2% | -9.3% | +8.0% | +5.4% | -5.9% |
| 2021 | -1.1% | +2.6% | +4.2% | +5.2% | +0.5% | +2.2% | +2.3% | +2.9% | -4.8% | +6.9% | -0.8% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | -0.2% | -8.4% | -12.5% | +12.7% | +4.5% | +1.8% | +5.5% | +7.0% | -3.9% | -2.8% | +10.8% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | +7.9% | +3.0% | +1.8% | +3.9% | -6.6% | +6.9% | +1.3% | -1.8% | +1.7% | +2.0% | +3.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | +5.6% | -3.9% | -2.7% | +0.3% | +2.2% | +0.5% | +3.6% | +3.0% | +0.4% | -6.9% | +1.8% | -9.2% |
| 2017 | +1.8% | +3.7% | -0.0% | +0.9% | +1.2% | +0.5% | +1.9% | +0.1% | +1.9% | +2.2% | +2.8% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | -5.1% | -0.4% | +6.6% | +0.3% | +1.5% | +0.1% | +3.6% | -0.1% | -0.1% | -1.9% | +3.4% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | -3.1% | +5.5% | -1.7% | +0.9% | +1.0% | -2.1% | +2.0% | -6.3% | -2.6% | +8.3% | +0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | -3.6% | +4.3% | +0.7% | +0.6% | +2.1% | +1.9% | -1.5% | +3.8% | -1.6% | +2.3% | +2.5% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | +5.0% | +1.1% | +3.6% | +1.8% | +2.1% | -1.5% | +4.9% | -3.1% | +3.0% | +4.5% | +2.8% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | +4.4% | +4.1% | +3.1% | -0.7% | -6.3% | +4.0% | +1.3% | +2.0% | +2.4% | -2.0% | +0.3% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | +2.3% | +3.2% | -0.1% | +2.8% | -1.4% | -1.8% | -2.1% | -5.7% | -7.2% | +10.8% | -0.5% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | -3.7% | +2.9% | +5.9% | +1.5% | -8.2% | -5.4% | +6.9% | -4.7% | +8.8% | +3.7% | -0.2% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | -8.6% | -11.0% | +8.5% | +9.4% | +5.3% | +0.0% | +7.4% | +3.4% | +3.6% | -2.0% | +5.7% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | -6.1% | -3.5% | -0.6% | +4.8% | +1.1% | -8.6% | -1.0% | +1.2% | -9.1% | -16.9% | -7.5% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | +1.4% | -2.2% | +1.0% | +4.3% | +3.3% | -1.8% | -3.2% | +1.3% | +3.6% | +1.5% | -4.4% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | +2.5% | +0.0% | +1.1% | +1.2% | -3.1% | +0.0% | +0.5% | +2.1% | +2.5% | +3.2% | +1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | -2.5% | +1.9% | -1.9% | -2.0% | +3.0% | -0.0% | +3.6% | -1.1% | +0.7% | -1.8% | +3.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | +1.7% | +1.2% | -1.6% | -1.7% | +1.2% | +1.8% | -3.4% | +0.2% | +0.9% | +1.4% | +3.9% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | -2.7% | -1.7% | +0.8% | +8.1% | +5.1% | +1.1% | +1.6% | +1.8% | -1.2% | +5.5% | +0.7% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | -1.6% | -2.1% | +3.7% | -6.1% | -0.9% | -7.2% | -7.9% | +0.5% | -11.0% | +8.6% | +5.7% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | +3.5% | -9.2% | -6.4% | +7.7% | +0.5% | -2.5% | -1.1% | -6.4% | -8.2% | +1.8% | +7.5% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | -5.1% | -2.0% | +9.7% | -3.1% | -2.2% | +2.4% | -1.6% | +6.1% | -5.3% | -0.5% | -8.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | +4.1% | -3.2% | +3.9% | +3.8% | -2.5% | +5.4% | -3.2% | -0.6% | -2.9% | +6.3% | +1.9% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | +1.0% | +7.0% | +5.0% | +0.9% | -1.9% | +3.9% | -1.2% | -14.6% | +6.2% | +8.0% | +5.9% | +5.6% |
| 1997 | +6.1% | +0.6% | -4.3% | +5.8% | +5.9% | +4.3% | +7.8% | -5.7% | +5.3% | -3.4% | +4.5% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | +3.3% | +0.7% | +0.8% | +1.3% | +2.3% | +0.2% | -4.6% | +1.9% | +5.4% | +2.6% | +7.3% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | +2.4% | +3.6% | +2.7% | +2.8% | +3.6% | +2.1% | +3.2% | -0.0% | +4.0% | -0.5% | +4.1% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | +3.3% | -3.0% | -4.6% | +1.2% | +1.2% | -2.7% | +3.1% | +3.8% | -2.7% | +2.1% | -4.0% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | +0.7% | +1.0% | +1.9% | -2.5% | +2.3% | +0.1% | -0.5% | +3.4% | -1.0% | +1.9% | -1.3% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | -2.0% | +1.0% | -2.2% | +2.8% | +0.1% | -1.7% | +3.9% | -2.4% | +0.9% | +0.2% | +3.0% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | +4.2% | +6.7% | +2.2% | +0.0% | +3.9% | -4.8% | +4.5% | +2.0% | -1.9% | +1.2% | -4.4% | +11.2% |
| 1990 | -6.9% | +0.9% | +2.4% | -2.7% | +9.2% | -0.9% | -0.5% | -9.4% | -5.1% | -0.7% | +6.0% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | +7.1% | -2.9% | +2.1% | +5.0% | +3.5% | -0.8% | +8.8% | +1.6% | -0.7% | -2.5% | +1.7% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | +4.0% | +4.2% | -3.3% | +0.9% | +0.3% | +4.3% | -0.5% | -3.9% | +4.0% | +2.6% | -1.9% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | +13.2% | +3.7% | +2.6% | -1.1% | +0.6% | +4.8% | +4.8% | +3.5% | -2.4% | -21.8% | -8.5% | +7.3% |
| 1986 | +0.2% | +7.1% | +5.3% | -1.4% | +5.0% | +1.4% | -5.9% | +7.1% | -8.5% | +5.5% | +2.1% | -2.8% |
| 1985 | +7.4% | +0.9% | -0.3% | -0.5% | +5.4% | +1.2% | -0.5% | -1.2% | -3.5% | +4.3% | +6.5% | +4.5% |
| 1984 | -0.9% | -3.9% | +1.3% | +0.5% | -5.9% | +1.7% | -1.6% | +10.6% | -0.3% | -0.0% | -1.5% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | +3.3% | +1.9% | +3.3% | +7.5% | -1.2% | +3.2% | -3.0% | +1.1% | +1.0% | -1.5% | +1.7% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | -1.8% | -6.1% | -1.0% | +4.0% | -3.9% | -2.0% | -2.3% | +11.6% | +0.8% | +11.0% | +3.6% | +1.5% |
| 1981 | -4.6% | +1.3% | +3.6% | -2.3% | -0.2% | -1.0% | -0.2% | -6.2% | -5.4% | +4.9% | +3.7% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | +5.8% | -0.4% | -10.2% | +4.1% | +4.7% | +2.7% | +6.5% | +0.6% | +2.5% | +1.6% | +10.2% | -3.4% |
| 1979 | +4.0% | -3.7% | +5.5% | +0.2% | -2.6% | +3.9% | +0.9% | +5.3% | +0.0% | -6.9% | +4.3% | +1.7% |
| 1978 | -6.2% | -2.5% | +2.5% | +8.5% | +0.4% | -1.8% | +5.4% | +2.6% | -0.7% | -9.2% | +1.7% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | -5.1% | -2.2% | -1.4% | +0.0% | -2.4% | +4.5% | -1.6% | -2.1% | -0.2% | -4.3% | +2.7% | +0.3% |
| 1976 | +11.8% | -1.1% | +3.1% | -1.1% | -1.4% | +4.1% | -0.8% | -0.5% | +2.3% | -2.2% | -0.8% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | +12.3% | +6.0% | +2.2% | +4.7% | +4.4% | +4.4% | -6.8% | -2.1% | -3.5% | +6.2% | +2.5% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | -1.0% | -0.4% | -2.3% | -3.9% | -3.4% | -1.5% | -7.8% | -9.0% | -11.9% | +16.3% | -5.3% | -2.0% |
| 1973 | -1.7% | -3.7% | -0.1% | -4.1% | -1.9% | -0.7% | +3.8% | -3.7% | +4.0% | -0.1% | -11.4% | +1.7% |
| 1972 | +1.8% | +2.5% | +0.6% | +0.4% | +1.7% | -2.2% | +0.2% | +3.4% | -0.5% | +0.9% | +4.6% | +1.2% |
| 1971 | +4.0% | +0.9% | +3.7% | +3.6% | -4.2% | -0.9% | -3.2% | +3.6% | -0.7% | -4.2% | -0.3% | +8.6% |
| 1970 | -7.6% | +5.3% | +0.1% | -9.0% | -6.1% | -5.0% | +7.3% | +4.4% | +3.4% | -1.2% | +4.7% | +5.7% |
| 1969 | -0.8% | -4.7% | +3.4% | +2.1% | -0.2% | -5.6% | -6.0% | +4.0% | -2.5% | +4.3% | -3.4% | -1.9% |
| 1968 | -4.4% | -3.1% | +0.9% | +8.0% | +1.3% | +0.9% | -1.8% | +1.1% | +3.9% | +0.7% | +4.8% | -4.2% |
| 1967 | +7.8% | +0.2% | +3.9% | +4.2% | -5.2% | +1.8% | +4.5% | -1.2% | +3.3% | -3.5% | +0.8% | +2.6% |
| 1966 | +0.5% | -1.8% | -2.2% | +2.1% | -5.4% | -1.6% | -1.3% | -7.8% | -0.7% | +4.8% | +0.3% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | +3.3% | -0.1% | -1.5% | +3.4% | -0.8% | -4.9% | +1.3% | +2.3% | +3.2% | +2.7% | -0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | +2.7% | +1.0% | +1.5% | +0.6% | +1.1% | +1.6% | +1.8% | -1.6% | +2.9% | +0.8% | -0.5% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | +4.9% | -2.9% | +3.5% | +4.9% | +1.4% | -2.0% | -0.3% | +4.9% | -1.1% | +3.2% | -1.1% | +2.4% |
| 1962 | -3.8% | +1.6% | -0.6% | -6.2% | -8.6% | -8.2% | +6.4% | +1.5% | -4.8% | +0.4% | +10.2% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | +6.3% | +2.7% | +2.6% | +0.4% | +1.9% | -2.9% | +3.3% | +2.0% | -2.0% | +2.8% | +3.9% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | -7.1% | +0.9% | -1.4% | -1.8% | +2.7% | +2.0% | -2.5% | +2.6% | -6.0% | -0.2% | +4.0% | +4.6% |
| 1959 | +0.4% | -0.1% | +0.1% | +3.9% | +1.9% | -0.4% | +3.5% | -1.5% | -4.6% | +1.1% | +1.3% | +2.8% |
| 1958 | +4.3% | -2.1% | +3.1% | +3.2% | +1.5% | +2.6% | +4.3% | +1.2% | +4.8% | +2.5% | +2.2% | +5.2% |
| 1957 | -4.2% | -3.3% | +2.0% | +3.7% | +3.7% | -0.1% | +1.1% | -5.6% | -6.2% | -3.2% | +1.6% | -4.1% |
| 1956 | -3.6% | +3.5% | +6.9% | -0.2% | -6.6% | +3.9% | +5.2% | -3.8% | -4.5% | +0.5% | -1.1% | +3.5% |
| 1955 | +1.8% | +0.4% | -0.5% | +3.8% | -0.1% | +8.2% | +6.1% | -0.8% | +1.1% | -3.0% | +7.5% | -0.1% |
| 1954 | +5.1% | +0.3% | +3.0% | +4.9% | +3.3% | +0.1% | +5.7% | -3.4% | +8.3% | -1.9% | +8.1% | +5.1% |
| 1953 | -0.7% | -1.8% | -2.4% | -2.6% | -0.3% | -1.6% | +2.5% | -5.8% | +0.1% | +5.1% | +0.9% | +0.2% |
| 1952 | +1.6% | -3.6% | +4.8% | -4.3% | +2.3% | +4.6% | +1.8% | -1.5% | -2.0% | -0.1% | +4.6% | +3.5% |
| 1951 | +6.0% | +0.6% | -1.5% | +4.4% | -4.1% | -2.6% | +6.9% | +3.9% | -0.1% | -1.4% | -0.3% | +3.9% |
| 1950 | +1.5% | +1.0% | +0.4% | +3.9% | +4.6% | -5.8% | +0.8% | +3.3% | +5.6% | +0.4% | -0.1% | +4.7% |
| 1949 | +0.1% | -3.9% | +3.0% | -2.3% | -3.5% | -0.2% | +6.2% | +1.2% | +2.4% | +3.0% | +0.1% | +4.5% |
| 1948 | -4.1% | -5.1% | +8.3% | +2.7% | +7.8% | +0.3% | -5.3% | +0.8% | -3.0% | +6.5% | -10.6% | +3.1% |
| 1947 | +2.4% | -1.5% | -1.7% | -3.9% | -0.9% | +5.3% | +3.6% | -2.8% | -1.4% | +2.1% | -2.9% | +2.1% |
| 1946 | +7.0% | -6.9% | +4.4% | +4.0% | +2.2% | -3.9% | -2.6% | -7.3% | -10.2% | -0.8% | -1.1% | +4.2% |
| 1945 | +1.4% | +6.2% | -4.8% | +9.0% | +1.1% | -0.9% | -1.4% | +5.8% | +3.5% | +3.7% | +3.2% | +1.0% |
| 1944 | +1.5% | -0.3% | +1.7% | -1.2% | +4.0% | +5.1% | -2.1% | +0.9% | -0.6% | +0.3% | +0.4% | +3.5% |
| 1943 | +6.9% | +5.1% | +5.6% | +0.1% | +4.0% | +2.5% | -4.0% | -0.4% | +2.4% | -1.4% | -7.5% | +5.9% |
| 1942 | +1.8% | -2.9% | -6.8% | -4.4% | +6.4% | +1.8% | +3.1% | +0.7% | +2.7% | +5.8% | -0.7% | +5.2% |
| 1941 | -4.8% | -1.5% | +0.4% | -6.5% | +0.8% | +5.0% | +5.5% | -1.1% | -0.8% | -6.9% | -4.0% | -4.7% |
| 1940 | -3.3% | +0.7% | +0.4% | +0.1% | -24.0% | +7.7% | +3.1% | +2.0% | +1.5% | +3.9% | -4.6% | +0.1% |
| 1939 | -6.4% | +3.3% | -13.5% | -0.5% | +6.1% | -6.4% | +10.9% | -7.1% | +14.4% | +0.3% | -4.9% | +2.1% |
| 1938 | +1.3% | +6.1% | -25.0% | +15.1% | -5.2% | +24.7% | +6.7% | -2.2% | +1.5% | +7.6% | -3.3% | +3.2% |
| 1937 | +3.4% | +1.6% | -0.8% | -8.3% | -1.0% | -5.3% | +8.9% | -4.4% | -14.2% | -10.2% | -10.0% | -5.0% |
| 1936 | +6.6% | +2.0% | +2.2% | -7.7% | +4.6% | +3.1% | +6.8% | +0.9% | +0.1% | +7.6% | +0.3% | -0.6% |
| 1935 | -4.2% | -4.0% | -3.3% | +9.8% | +3.2% | +6.9% | +8.2% | +1.4% | +3.1% | +7.5% | +3.9% | +3.8% |
| 1934 | +12.0% | -3.7% | -1.3% | -1.5% | -8.1% | +2.1% | -11.5% | +5.4% | -0.8% | -3.0% | +8.3% | -0.4% |
| 1933 | +0.3% | -18.4% | +3.4% | +33.8% | +23.1% | +13.2% | -8.8% | +11.5% | -12.4% | -7.8% | +10.3% | +0.9% |
| 1932 | -2.2% | +4.4% | -11.8% | -20.2% | -23.3% | -0.9% | +36.1% | +39.1% | -3.7% | -13.9% | -5.9% | +5.6% |
| 1931 | +5.5% | +11.4% | -7.4% | -9.6% | -13.7% | +13.9% | -7.4% | +0.9% | -29.9% | +7.4% | -8.9% | -14.5% |
| 1930 | +6.2% | +2.2% | +3.7% | +3.1% | -1.6% | -16.5% | +3.7% | +0.8% | -13.0% | -8.9% | -3.3% | -6.3% |
| 1929 | +5.7% | -0.6% | -0.2% | +1.6% | -4.3% | +10.4% | +5.4% | +9.8% | -4.9% | -19.9% | -13.4% | +2.5% |
| 1928 | -0.5% | -1.8% | +11.7% | +2.4% | +1.3% | -4.3% | +1.5% | +7.4% | +1.3% | +2.6% | +12.0% | +0.3% |
Monthly price return is calculated using the final trading-day closing price of each calendar month relative to the final trading-day closing price of the previous month. Dividends are excluded.
Historical month statistics use completed calendar months only. An incomplete current month is shown separately as month-to-date and does not affect the historical frequency calculations.
Explore S&P 500 returns and stock market returns from 1928 to the present. This historical S&P 500 chart and data set shows S&P 500 history by month and year, including the S&P 500 average return for each calendar month, monthly stock market returns, positive and negative return frequency, SPX performance, and current month-to-date performance. The interactive S&P 500 chart and research tools make it possible to compare long-term market behavior across decades and identify how monthly performance has changed through different market cycles.
The historical data also provides detailed SPX monthly data for studying seasonality, the best and worst months for the S&P 500, average monthly return percentages, and long-term stock market returns and performance history. Investors researching SPY historical data or index fund returns can use S&P 500 index history as related benchmark research, although the calculations on this page represent the S&P 500 index itself rather than SPY ETF returns. Annual performance is available separately in TNI's S&P 500 annual returns research.
