The price of gold has surged to record levels this year in the wake of uncertainty surging through global financial markets.

On an inflation-adjusted basis, gold notched a new record price, surpassing the longstanding record set in 1980.

The chart above plots gold’s price over the past 50 years ... Over shorter periods — several years or even decades — gold prices in inflation-adjusted terms fluctuate greatly.

Gold is not your first choice to earn long-term appreciation. Over the past five years, the price of gold ... Over shorter time periods, the inflation-adjusted price of gold fluctuates ...

Delivering long-term returns and beating inflation Gold generates robust returns across economic cycles. Looking back over the past 50 years ... gained over 20%[3] (Chart 1).

Short-term inflation expectations ... dropped, and gold extended its run to new record highs as investors sought safety amid uncertainty. The 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.50%, its highest level ...

Inflation throttled back in March ... according to the BLS. Seasonally adjusted prices are down about 10% over the past year. Oil prices plunged in early April, tied to fears of a global recession ...