Gold Surges 28.94% Year Over Year to $3,327 per Ounce

On July 8, 2025, at 9:05 a.m. Eastern Time, gold was trading at $3,327 per ounce. This price represents a $19 increase from the same time the previous day and a $963 rise from the same time a year ago. The price of gold yesterday was $3,308, marking a -0.57% change. One month ago, the price was $3,317, indicating a -0.30% change. One year ago, the price was $2,364, showing a -28.94% change.

For investors seeking an asset less affected by inflation, gold may be a prudent choice. Historically, gold is an asset that appreciates over time. Many people use a gold IRA, which offers the convenience of not having to store physical gold, which can come with its own costs. Regardless of how you purchase gold, it can help serve as a steady part of a portfolio during market volatility.

Gold isn’t a guaranteed answer in every financial environment. In a strong economy, stocks can deliver better returns both in the short and long term. From 1971 to 2024, traditional stocks averaged 10.7% annual returns, while gold averaged 7.9%. Still, gold is a reliable, risk-averse asset during economic uncertainty. That’s why some investors see it more as a store of value instead of a typical investment like stocks or bonds.

The spot price is the current rate for buying or selling gold immediately in over-the-counter trades. This helps investors track gold demand and market trends. A higher spot price means stronger demand. Unlike futures, the spot price is for immediate settlement. When the price for future delivery is above the spot price, it’s called contango, which is common for commodities with storage costs. If the futures price is lower, it’s called backwardation. Many factors can cause the spot price to fluctuate. Investors should be prepared for this volatility.

The price spread is the gap between the buying and selling price of an asset. In gold trading, the ask price is the cost to buy, and the bid price is what you’d get for selling. The bid is always less than the ask. A smaller spread means a more liquid market. Tight spreads typically indicate higher gold demand.

If you picture gold investing as a suitcase filled with gold bars, that’s only part of the story. While buying physical bars, coins, or jewelry is an option, most gold trading happens via exchange-traded funds (ETFs). James Taska, a fee-based financial advisor, says, “There is a great debate as to whether paper gold is as useful as the physical. From a financial advisor’s viewpoint, it is much easier to rebalance a client’s allocation of gold if it is owned as an exchange-traded fund (ETF), and the spread when attempting to buy/sell gold can be quite variable and wide.” Popular ways to invest in gold include gold bars and rounds, gold coins, gold jewelry, gold futures contracts, and gold funds.

Deciding if now is the right time to invest in gold is subjective. However, gold can help diversify your portfolio and reduce market risk. Gold remains a stable asset amid market volatility. Prices have reached record highs, up more than 25% since early 2025, driven by inflation and uncertainty. Many experts recommend adding gold for diversification.

Silver, platinum, and palladium are also common portfolio additions. Gold is typically less volatile than silver, which can see major price swings within a day. Silver’s use in industry makes it more responsive to economic trends. Platinum and palladium behave similarly to silver. These rare metals can diversify a portfolio but are usually more volatile than gold.

The U.S. economy has been unsettled for years, with persistent inflation making an impact. Gold can serve as an inflation hedge in your portfolio. With multiple ways to buy, gold is accessible to most investors. Whether through a gold IRA or a more active investment approach, gold can help achieve both short- and long-term goals.