Gold (GC=F) December futures opened at $4,468.80 per troy ounce on Thursday, August 13, 2026, roughly flat compared to the previous day's closing price. The precious metal eased slightly in morning trading, changing hands at $4,441.10 as of 7:53 a.m. ET.

Gold has now opened above $4,400 for four consecutive sessions, a streak that coincides with diminishing expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its September meeting. Gold, which yields no interest or dividends, typically faces a higher opportunity cost when rates rise, making lower-rate environments more favorable for the metal. Market participants are awaiting today's Producer Price Index (PPI) report, which tracks price changes at the wholesale or producer level and is often viewed as a leading indicator for consumer inflation. The report is expected to provide further clarity on the central bank's next move.

Wednesday's Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showed cooling inflation for the second month in a row. Yahoo Finance Fed Correspondent Jennifer Schonberger said the CPI report "bolsters the case for the Federal Reserve to wait. It's hard to see them hiking in September now that we've had two back-to-back months of cooling inflation."

Schonberger noted that today's PPI release, combined with the July employment and CPI reports, will help form a clearer picture of the Fed's likely trajectory heading into September.

"I think there's still question marks about what's going to happen in September based on what we see on PCE numbers, … but at this point it's hard to see them hiking based on the data we have right now," she said.

Schonberger's reference to PCE, or Personal Consumption Expenditures, points to the inflation gauge the Fed tracks most closely when setting policy, distinct from the more widely cited CPI.

Price Movement in Context

The opening price of gold futures on Thursday, August 13, 2026, was flat compared to Wednesday's close. Measured against key prior periods, the opening gold price has changed as follows:

• One week ago: +4%
• One month ago: +9.5%
• One year ago: +33%

For additional context, gold's year-over-year growth stood at 95.6% on January 29.

Gold IRA Considerations

Investors holding physical gold for long-term security may consider a gold IRA, a specialized form of self-directed individual retirement account designed to hold gold and other precious metals. These accounts must comply with IRS requirements, including:

• Storage: Gold held in a gold IRA must be stored at an IRS-approved facility.
• Eligible assets: A gold IRA can hold physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, though not all forms qualify. Bullion, coins, and bars must meet specific purity standards, and gold bars must come from approved refiners.

Account holders are required to work with a specialty provider to ensure compliance with these regulations.