May CPI Printed 4.2%. Core Inflation Beat. So Why Did the Gold Price Drop?

May CPI came in at 4.2% — the fastest pace since early 2023 — and the gold price fell nearly $100 to 11-week lows. But the headline is almost entirely an energy story: gasoline is up 40.5% year-over-year while core CPI rose just 0.2% for the month, below forecast and down sharply from April. The market sold gold on a number it was already expecting. The data behind that number tells a different story.

How Gold Price Is Set: The East-West Tide Explained

For 90 years, gold has moved in a recurring tide between Western financial markets and Eastern physical holders. Understanding who sets the price — and why that mechanism is shifting — is the most useful mental model a gold investor can carry.

Gold Price History: From $35 to $4,500 in 100 Years

Gold went from $35 in 1971 to around $4,500 today — a 12,000% gain since the gold standard ended. Meanwhile, the dollar lost 96.9% of its purchasing power over the same period. These are not two separate stories. This is the complete gold price history: decade by decade, the real cause behind every major move, and what a century of data tells investors right now.

The Gold Market Is Mostly Paper. Dubai Disagrees.

Most gold doesn’t move when it’s “traded” — it changes hands as a ledger entry in an unallocated account. A new report shows Dubai is building a different system entirely, where ownership means a specific bar, not a claim on a pool. Here’s what the difference means for your portfolio.

Why Central Banks Sell Gold — And What It Means for Prices

Central banks bought 863 tonnes of gold in 2025. Yet Russia, Turkey, and others are selling. Here’s what drives official-sector gold sales — and what the history of central bank selling tells long-term investors about price risk.

What’s Driving Gold and Silver Prices This Week 

Gold and silver whipsawed on conflicting ceasefire signals as Trump paused Iran strikes and Tehran denied any talks. Meanwhile, gas crossed $4 for the first time since 2022 — and Friday’s CPI print could reset inflation expectations.

Gold +3%, Silver +7%: Metals Close Q1 With a Bang 

Gold and silver prices posted their strongest session in weeks to close Q1 2026 — gold up 3.49%, silver up 7.50%. Tariffs, an Iran peace signal, and a brutal quarter in stocks all converged on the final trading day of March.

Small Market, Big Swings: Why Silver Is More Volatile Than Gold 

Silver can outpace gold on a rally—and fall twice as fast in a selloff. The cause isn’t speculation. It’s structure. Here’s how the size of each market shapes price behavior.

Gold Is Down 14% in March. Inflation Isn’t Done Yet. 

Gold dropped 14% in March — its worst month since 2008. Gas prices surged. Aluminum hit a two-year high. And the OECD now sees inflation running nearly twice the Fed’s forecast. Here’s what’s driving markets and what it means heading into Q2.

Should I Buy Gold Now? What Most Investors Get Wrong 

Most investors ask the wrong question about gold. It’s not just when to buy — it’s why, how, and how much. This guide breaks down the key factors most people overlook, from choosing the right investment vehicle to building the right allocation for your risk profile, so you can make a smarter, more confident decision about investing in gold today.