Here’s one economic message from the Costco gold bar craze
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It’s all about trust.
The nation may have left the gold standard behind in 1971, but Costco (COST) shoppers have proven that gold is a red-hot buy this month.
Sure, it’s an investment, but it’s also “reflecting this yearning for real money,” economist and senior fellow at the Independent Institute Judy Shelton told Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi on his Opening Bid podcast (video above; listen in below). “Gold is kind of a surrogate for the real economy, and it represents commodities, but also that traditional role of money you can trust.”
The wildly popular Costco boullion was introduced to warehouse club members last year via 24 karat 1oz bars. The product has flown off the shelves, with Costco raking in a reported $200 million per month in gold bar sales. Demand has been so great that the retailer has begun to offer platinum bars.
According to Shelton, the gold rush at Costco likely has personal meaning to the financially skittish consumer. Over the past few years, they’ve become accustomed to watching inflation spike as high as 9% while the US dollar lost 20% of its purchasing power. This haven't exactly stoked Americans' confidence.
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The sudden rise in gold’s popularity could also relate to consumers’ overall trust in the precious metal and what it represents. “It’s a meaningful unit of account. It works across borders,” she said. “It has universal value, and it’s highly recognized.”
Precious metals such as gold are currently having a solid ride. Year-to-date, gold prices are up 31.72% to $2,750 an ounce. Silver and platinum prices are up 41% and 3%, respectively.
UBS chief investment officer of the Americas, Solita Marcelli, said the gold price rally has further room to run, citing the potential for more interest rate cuts and worsening geopolitical tensions.
"Despite the rally, we think gold's hedging properties remain attractive. Alongside physical gold, investor may consider exposure through structured strategies, ETFs, or via gold miner equities. Investors unaccustomed to the volatility of individual commodities may also consider exposure via an actively managed strategy that seeks to deliver alpha over comparable passive indices," Marcelli said in a note to clients.
Three times each week, Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi fields insight-filled conversations and chats with the biggest names in business and markets on Opening Bid. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service.