The S&P 500 in 1980
The S&P 500 rose 25.8% in 1980, from 107.94 to 135.76; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.7%. That ranks 1980 20th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +25.8%
- Total return
- +31.7%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −17.1%March 27, 1980
- Year-end close
- 135.76December 31, 1980
- Highest close
- 140.52November 28, 1980
- Lowest close
- 98.22March 27, 1980
- Record closes
- 24
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +3.6%April 22, 1980
- Worst day
- −3.0%March 17, 1980
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 8.9
How 1980 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 140.52 on November 28, 1980; the lowest was 98.22 on March 27, 1980.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −17.1%, bottoming on March 27, 1980.
24 closes set new all-time highs, the last on November 28, 1980.
The best session was April 22, 1980 (+3.6%); the worst was March 17, 1980 (−3.0%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 6 months of 1980: February 1980 to July 1980.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 8.9 in January 1980.
Drawdowns that touched 1980
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Shock and Stagflation | January 11, 1973 → October 3, 1974 | −48.2% | July 17, 1980 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | September 22, 1980 → September 29, 1980 | −5.3% | October 6, 1980 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | October 15, 1980 → October 30, 1980 | −5.5% | November 12, 1980 |
| Volcker's Rates and the 1981–82 Recession | November 28, 1980 → August 12, 1982 | −27.1% | November 3, 1982 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1980.
What $10,000 at the start of 1980 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1980, with dividends reinvested, grew to $1,988,618 by the end of 2025: 12.2% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $634,115.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1980?
The S&P 500 rose 25.8% in 1980, from 107.94 to 135.76; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.7%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1980?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1980 was −17.1%, reaching bottom on March 27, 1980.
Was 1980 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1980 falls inside the 1980–1982 bear market (Volcker's Rates and the 1981–82 Recession), when the S&P 500 fell 27.1% from its record close on November 28, 1980 to its low on August 12, 1982.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1980?
Yes: 24 closes set new all-time highs in 1980, the last on November 28, 1980.
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.