Gold is widely considered a good investment to protect against inflation. But has gold really kept up with inflation, in terms of purchasing power? In 1932, one ounce of gold was worth about $20. At the time of writing in 2014, one ounce of gold is worth approximately $1,260. How does that translate into goods and services?
In the 1930’s, you could buy the best quality men’s suit for $20 – about one ounce of gold. Today, you can buy a high-quality suit for about $1,000 – still about one ounce of gold.
In the 1960’s, the average rent in Burbank, California for a single person was about $60 per month and gold per ounce was $35.27. Today, the average rent in Burbank, California is about $1,600 per month – about one to two ounces of gold then, and about one to two ounces of gold now. Gold still keeps up with inflation.
Today, 3 ounces of gold will buy you a “fully-loaded” Mackbook Pro. Unfortunately, you couldn’t buy a Macbook Pro in the 1930’s. However, you could buy a Remington Portable Typewriter for $60 dollars – or about 3 ounces of gold.
While inflation has greatly weakened the purchasing power of the US Dollar over time, gold has maintained its value, and purchasing power.
Are you, or someone you know, interested in diversifying their investment portfolio? Many financial advisors recommend their clients invest 5% to 15% of their investment portfolio in rare coins, and precious metals as a hedge against the weakening of the United States Dollar, inflation, and world instability. We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends or family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get free information.