True Inflation-Adjusted Rate Means Gold Should Be At $5,467!

ShadowStat Alternative Inflation Figures Suggest Infation Adjusted Gold Price of $5,476!

Contrary to popular belief, Gold Prices have, in fact, tracked the true inflation rate very closely… and there is a very real possibility that we will have a short-term spike – a genuine investment bubble – in gold that takes us into the $5,000/oz to $8,000/oz range. Words: 748

So says Rob Marstrand in an article* at www.goldnews.bullionvault.com which has been reformatted and edited […] below by Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com, for the sake of clarity and brevity to ensure a fast and easy read. Please note that this paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement. Marstrand goes on to say:

CPI Adjusted Gold Price of $1,753

Let’s examine a brief history of the Gold Price relative to U.S. inflation. The Gold Price peaked in January 1980 at $850 per ounce but this peak was very brief… Probably a better reference point for the market top is the average price during 1980 as a whole. This was $615/oz. Since then, the Gold Price has increased only 125%. Over the same timespan, however, the government’s most widely quoted inflation gauge, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has increased 185%. Therefore, if the Gold Price had increased as much as the CPI, it would be selling for $1753/oz today… but the official inflation figures might not be the real story.

ShadowStats Alternative Gold Price of $5,467 to $7,000

Using alternative inflation figures calculated by ShadowStats.com, consumer prices have soared an astounding 789% since 1980, which means that the inflation- adjusted Gold Price would be $5,467/oz.

Substantiation For ShadowStat Inflation Data

Interestingly, if we look at the market bottoms for gold – 1970 and 2001 – instead of the market tops, the ShadowStats data seem to provide a much more accurate inflation gauge than the CPI. For example, in January 1970 – before gold’s 10-year bull run – the price of gold was just $35/oz. Thirty-one years later – after soaring to more than $800 an ounce in 1980 – the big bear market in gold bottomed out at $256/oz. – and the average price for 2001 was $271/oz. Therefore, during this 31-year period – through gold’s full bull and bear market cycle – the Gold Price advanced 674%. Over the same timeframe, the ShadowStats inflation measure advanced a nearly identical 688%. By contrast, the CPI increased only 370% during this period. In other words, the cumulative CPI readings from 1970 to 2001 failed to account for all the inflation indicated by the rising Gold Price. The ShadowStats figures, on the other hand, were pretty much bang on target.

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I’m staying conservative, and there’s nothing to suggest that just because using the ShadowStats inflation worked for the bear market lows it will work for the bull market highs but if the ShadowStats figures above are a guide, then maybe they point to a price north of $5,000/oz for gold – or even $7,000 for a short time.

Conclusion

I’ve just thrown a lot of numbers at you but the point is this: gold looks like it has plenty of upside. Let’s be really clear about one thing, however. I’m not making a hard prediction or setting a price target here. These figures just provide reference points… [however] I can easily see gold getting into the $2000/oz to $3,000/oz range in the next few years – maybe higher and there is a very real possibility that we will have a short-term spike – a genuine investment bubble – that takes us into the $5,000/oz to $8,000/oz.

None of this is certain and it most likely won’t happen smoothly. There could even be big corrections along the way – like between December 1974 and August 1976 when gold fell 47% before powering ahead again. [Be that as it may] I hope I’ve shown you that there are good reasons to think that gold still has plenty of room on the upside.

If you own plenty of gold already, then hang on for the ride. If not, buy Gold on the dips.

*http://goldnews.bullionvault.com/gold_price_inflation_010620119