The S&P 500 in 1966
The S&P 500 fell 13.1% in 1966, from 92.43 to 80.33; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −10.0%. That ranks 1966 13th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −13.1%
- Total return
- −10.0%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −22.2%October 7, 1966
- Year-end close
- 80.33December 30, 1966
- Highest close
- 94.06February 9, 1966
- Lowest close
- 73.20October 7, 1966
- Record closes
- 9
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +2.8%October 12, 1966
- Worst day
- −2.5%August 29, 1966
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 24.1
How 1966 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 94.06 on February 9, 1966; the lowest was 73.20 on October 7, 1966.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −22.2%, bottoming on October 7, 1966.
9 closes set new all-time highs, the last on February 9, 1966.
The best session was October 12, 1966 (+2.8%); the worst was August 29, 1966 (−2.5%).
No month of 1966 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 24.1 in January 1966.
Drawdowns that touched 1966
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 1966 Credit Crunch | February 9, 1966 → October 7, 1966 | −22.2% | May 4, 1967 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1966.
What $10,000 at the start of 1966 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1966, with dividends reinvested, grew to $4,004,509 by the end of 2025: 10.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $740,507.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1966?
The S&P 500 fell 13.1% in 1966, from 92.43 to 80.33; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −10.0%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1966?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1966 was −22.2%, reaching bottom on October 7, 1966.
Was 1966 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1966 falls inside the 1966 bear market (The 1966 Credit Crunch), when the S&P 500 fell 22.2% from its record close on February 9, 1966 to its low on October 7, 1966.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1966?
Yes: 9 closes set new all-time highs in 1966, the last on February 9, 1966.
Data and sources
Daily closes · Calendar-year price returns · Calendar-year total returns · Intra-year declines · Drawdowns from record closes · Shiller CAPE · NBER recession months (via FRED)
Index levels are daily closes. Price return leaves dividends out; total return reinvests them. A past year's page changes only when a later year completes and the rankings move.