Gold Stays Above $5,000 as US Data Strengthens Rate-Cut Bets

We start with a striking fact: Gold is holding above $5,000 per ounce in early 2026, a price level that was once unthinkably high just a few years ago. This isn’t random. It reflects deep shifts in global finance and investor psychology. Gold, the oldest store of value, often rises when uncertainty grows. And right now, soft US economic data and stronger bets on US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts are key reasons bullion remains elevated. Markets worldwide are reacting to signs of slower consumer spending, cooling inflation pressures, and shifting expectations about US monetary policy.