What is the CBOE Volatility Index (Cboe Indices: ^VIX) index? What are the historical values of the ^VIX index?

The CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX), also known as the Fear Index, measures expected market volatility over the coming 30 days, using a portfolio of options on the S&P 500. It was created by the CBOE Options Exchange and is maintained by CBOE Global Markets.

The ^VIX index attempts to measure the magnitude of price movements of the S&P 500 (i.e., its volatility). The more dramatic the price swings are in the index, the higher the level of ^VIX values, and vice versa.

The historical values of the CBOE Volatility Index (Cboe Indices: ^VIX) index are presented below.

CBOE Volatility Index
Cboe Indices: ^VIX
2026-08-20: 16.01000023 Point

Historical values in Point: Summary Detail
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      Date      Point   Change (Value, %)    Growth
----------  ---------  -------------------  -------
1990-09-01      29.11  (   -0.79,  -2.64%)  181.82%
1990-08-01      29.90  (    8.79,  41.64%)  186.76%
1990-07-01      21.11  (    5.61,  36.19%)  131.86%
1990-06-01      15.50  (   -1.87, -10.77%)   96.81%
1990-05-01      17.37  (   -2.15, -11.01%)  108.49%
1990-04-01      19.52  (   -0.21,  -1.06%)  121.92%
1990-03-01      19.73  (   -2.26, -10.28%)  123.24%
1990-02-01      21.99  (        ,        )  137.35%
----------  ---------  -------------------  -------
      Date      Point   Change (Value, %)    Growth
Historical values in Point: Summary Detail
Pages: ◀◁…456789

⇒ Relation of S&P 500 and ^VIX Index

⇐ Relation of S&P 500 and US Fed Interest

⇑ US Market Indices

⇑⇑ Market Indices