Why Over One Third of Germans Buy Gold

It is widely known that Chinese and Indian citizens have bought gold for centuries. Accumulating and owning precious metals has been a cornerstone of those societies approach to wealth preservation and wealth building. What is less widely known is the healthy appetite for gold on the European continent. A new survey from the World Gold Council revealed that German investors place great value in gold’s role as an inflation hedge and a portfolio diversifier.

And they plan to buy more of it.

Thirty seven percent of German investors have invested or held gold at some point, the World Gold Council found. Gold is the third most popular investing option behind savings accounts and stocks.

German investors buy gold for the same reason that central banks, pension funds and family offices buy the precious metal. “The top motives for investing [in gold] are that it protects against inflation, is easy to buy and sell, gives a better long-term return than cash held in a savings account, and helps to spread risk and diversify their portfolio,” the survey found.

Gold offers a safe haven and a safety net to those who own it, which is why here in North America, 29% of financial advisors in North America plan to increase allocations to gold over the next 12 to 18 months, according to a June 2024 report from State Street Global Advisors.

Gold has climbed 24% since January in a record-setting year, and inflation still remains higher than the Federal Reserve’s target rate.

In September, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% to 2.4% annually—coming in higher than economists had expected. The latest data reveals that the battle against inflation isn’t over yet and the Fed still has a fight ahead to tame and tamp down rising prices.

Inflation is just one of the many reasons investors buy gold. Gold has proven track record as way to store wealth and preserve purchasing power, unlike paper currency, whose value is eroded by inflation. Research shows that gold has kept up with rising prices by delivering positive returns during periods of rising and especially during times of extreme inflation.

In the midst of the current economic, political and geopolitical uncertainty we face today, gold has become the safe haven of choice of today’s modern investors. Gold has a 5,000 year track record of preserving and growing wealth. It’s no surprise that citizens around the world today continue to place their trust in a strategic asset like gold.

Circling back to the World Gold Council survey, it also found that German gold investors tend to be loyal, repeat buyers. What about you? Do you feel confident in your ability to preserve, protect and grow your wealth? Do you plan to be a repeat buyer of gold? If you’ve got questions, call a Blanchard portfolio manager today for a complimentary, confidential portfolio review. We’re here to help.

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