The S&P 500 in 1982
The S&P 500 rose 14.8% in 1982, from 122.55 to 140.64; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +20.4%. That ranks 1982 39th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +14.8%
- Total return
- +20.4%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −16.6%August 12, 1982
- Year-end close
- 140.64December 31, 1982
- Highest close
- 143.02November 9, 1982
- Lowest close
- 102.42August 12, 1982
- Record closes
- 2
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +4.8%August 17, 1982
- Worst day
- −4.0%October 25, 1982
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 7.4
How 1982 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 143.02 on November 9, 1982; the lowest was 102.42 on August 12, 1982.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −16.6%, bottoming on August 12, 1982.
2 closes set new all-time highs, the last on November 9, 1982.
The best session was August 17, 1982 (+4.8%); the worst was October 25, 1982 (−4.0%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 11 months of 1982: January 1982 to November 1982.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 7.4 in January 1982.
Drawdowns that touched 1982
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcker's Rates and the 1981–82 Recession | November 28, 1980 → August 12, 1982 | −27.1% | November 3, 1982 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | November 9, 1982 → November 23, 1982 | −7.0% | January 6, 1983 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1982.
What $10,000 at the start of 1982 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1982, with dividends reinvested, grew to $1,583,948 by the end of 2025: 12.2% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $558,531.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1982?
The S&P 500 rose 14.8% in 1982, from 122.55 to 140.64; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +20.4%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1982?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1982 was −16.6%, reaching bottom on August 12, 1982.
Was 1982 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1982 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 1982?
Yes: 2 closes set new all-time highs in 1982, the last on November 9, 1982.
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.