The S&P 500 in 1983
The S&P 500 rose 17.3% in 1983, from 140.64 to 164.93; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +22.3%. That ranks 1983 34th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +17.3%
- Total return
- +22.3%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.9%August 8, 1983
- Year-end close
- 164.93December 30, 1983
- Highest close
- 172.65October 10, 1983
- Lowest close
- 138.34January 3, 1983
- Record closes
- 29
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +2.7%July 20, 1983
- Worst day
- −2.7%January 24, 1983
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 8.8
How 1983 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 172.65 on October 10, 1983; the lowest was 138.34 on January 3, 1983.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.9%, bottoming on August 8, 1983.
29 closes set new all-time highs, the last on October 10, 1983.
The best session was July 20, 1983 (+2.7%); the worst was January 24, 1983 (−2.7%).
No month of 1983 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 8.8 in January 1983.
Drawdowns that touched 1983
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | November 9, 1982 → November 23, 1982 | −7.0% | January 6, 1983 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | June 22, 1983 → August 8, 1983 | −6.9% | October 10, 1983 |
| Correction (10–20%) | October 10, 1983 → July 24, 1984 | −14.4% | January 21, 1985 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1983.
What $10,000 at the start of 1983 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1983, with dividends reinvested, grew to $1,315,353 by the end of 2025: 12.0% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $486,695.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1983?
The S&P 500 rose 17.3% in 1983, from 140.64 to 164.93; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +22.3%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1983?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1983 was −6.9%, reaching bottom on August 8, 1983.
Was 1983 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1983.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1983?
Yes: 29 closes set new all-time highs in 1983, the last on October 10, 1983.
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.