S&P 500 in August
Since 1994, August has returned -0.1% on average (median +0.7%), and the S&P 500 has risen in 64% of Augusts — 11th of the 12 months by average. Total return, dividends reinvested, from SPY's month-end closes.
August 2026: +2.7% — 8th of 33 Augusts since 1994.
Every August since 1994 (total return)#
How August returns are spread#
33 Augusts since 1994, counted in 2% bins; the blue line is August 2026.
S&P 500 August returns by year#
| Year | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +2.7% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | +2.1% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | +2.3% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | -1.6% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | -4.1% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | +3.0% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | +7.0% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | -1.7% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | +3.2% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | +0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | -6.1% | -6.1% |
| 2014 | +3.9% | +3.9% |
| 2013 | -3.0% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | +2.5% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | -5.5% | -5.5% |
| 2010 | -4.5% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | +3.7% | +3.7% |
| 2008 | +1.5% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | +2.2% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | -0.9% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | +0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | +2.1% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | +0.7% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | -5.9% | -5.9% |
| 2000 | +6.5% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | -0.5% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | -14.1% | -14.1% |
| 1997 | -5.2% | -5.2% |
| 1996 | +1.9% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | +0.4% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | +3.8% | +3.8% |
Methodology#
Each August is the return from the last close of the month before to the last close of August, from SPY's closes since 1994: total return over its dividend-adjusted closes, price return over its split-adjusted closes. The month in progress is as of the last close and moves with the tape during the session; it is shown beside the record and never averaged into it. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
ChartRow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P Global, Nasdaq, Inc., Robert Shiller, RSBB-I, LLC, or Yale University. "S&P 500®" and "Dow Jones®" are registered trademarks of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC; "Nasdaq-100®" is a registered trademark of Nasdaq, Inc.; "CAPE®" is a registered trademark of RSBB-I, LLC. They are used here only to identify the indexes and series discussed. All index-related figures on this page are independently derived from public sources — SEC filings, the public Shiller S&P 500 monthly series, and our own computations — not from any index provider's data feed.
FAQ#
- Is August a good month for the S&P 500?
- Since 1994, August has returned -0.1% on average (total return, dividends reinvested) with a median of +0.7%, and the S&P 500 rose in 21 of 33 Augusts (64%). By average return it ranks 11th of the 12 months.
- What was the S&P 500's best and worst August?
- The best August since 1994 was 2020 (+7.0%), the worst 1998 (-14.1%).
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