VIX

VIX is 18.7 and has been rising over the last 3 months. That is in its normal range: higher than 58% of readings since 2006.

Latest (latest reading)

18.7

As of

Nov 12, 2026

3-month change

+4.07

1-year change

+1.19

20-year percentile

58th

20-year median

17.4

Monthly averages, last 20 years. Shaded band = the middle half of readings.

What it is. Expected stock market volatility; the fear gauge. A higher reading means less risk appetite in the Markets reading.

What it affects next

VIX is rising: 18.7 (+4.07 in 3 months, 58th percentile of the last 20 years). Here is what has tended to follow, based on links the data backs up.

→S&P 500: has tended to fall in the same month. Following
It is: −8.13 % pts over 3 months. Link strength 0.52.
→Nasdaq Composite: has tended to fall in the same month. Following
It is: −13 % pts over 3 months. Link strength 0.44.

None of its tested drivers is moving much right now.

VIXsignalsNasdaq CompositeData agrees
Volatility spikes usually come with selloffs. Typical lag: same day. Strongest match in the same period (correlation -0.44, 371 observations since 1996).
VIXsignalsS&P 500Data agrees
The VIX is built from S&P 500 options; volatility spikes come with selloffs. Typical lag: same day. Strongest match in the same period (correlation -0.52, 109 observations since 2017).

Source: Cboe via FRED (series VIXCLS). This series is copyrighted by its provider and shown here for educational, non-commercial use.