VIX history explained: what 25, 19 and 82 mean

UXS video · Statistics · 0:54 · Published

UXS video · synthetic voice · Mixkit music · MP4, 4.9 MB

What this video covers

A gauge and a 36-year line chart of the VIX daily close from FRED, with the latest close, the long-run average and the March 2020 record. It ends with the simple math that turns a VIX level into an expected monthly move.

Sources and the longer explanation: VIX Volatility Index History: Chart, Highs and Monthly Data.

Numbers shown on screen

  • 25.64: November 6, 2026
  • 19.4: Average VIX close since 1990
  • 82.69
  • 13.47: Low, December 24, 2025
  • 31.05: High, March 27, 2026

How the visuals were made

In 0:54 the video moves through 7 scenes, including a gauge with the level bands described on the page; an animated line chart, “VIX, weekly, since 1990”, drawn from FRED series VIXCLS (full history); a worked formula card (20 ÷ √12 ≈ 5.8%); a checklist, “How VIX levels have usually read”. All graphics were rendered frame by frame by UXS; no stock footage, logos or faces are used.

Chapters

  • 0:00 VIX daily close
  • 0:08 Average VIX close since 1990
  • 0:13 VIX, weekly, since 1990
  • 0:19 From VIX to an expected monthly move
  • 0:28 52-week range
  • 0:39 How VIX levels have usually read
  • 0:47 Risk note

Transcript

The VIX, often called the fear index, closed at 25.64 on November 6, 2026.

That is above its long-run average of about 19.4 since 1990.

The record close in this data is 82.69, on March 16, 2020.

A VIX of 20 implies roughly a 20% annual move, about 5.8% over a month: 20 divided by the square root of 12.

Over the past 52 weeks it ranged from 13.47 in December 2025 to 31.05 in March 2026.

A rough guide: below 15 has meant calm, 15 to 25 normal, 25 to 40 stress, and above 40 crisis.

It measures expected movement, not direction. Educational only, not financial advice.