GOLD - OVERVIEW

Financial crises and elections create financial uncertainty and in turn, impact demand for and the price of gold.

Released on the 1st Friday of month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this report indicates how many jobs the  U.S. economy has added /lost in the last month. Non-Farm Payroll is also a key driver of Fed policy and an indicator of economic growth.

Monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country; broadly measures overall economic activity.

Released mid-month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPI measures inflation or cost-of-living changes, tracking the average price of a basket of goods and service, and is also a key driver of Fed policy.

The FOMC meets 8 times a year to set U.S. monetary policy and key interest rate changes; gold markets rise with rate cuts and vice versa.

This index measures the value of the US dollar relative to a basket of currencies for the US’s most significant trading partners.

These announcements affect the size/growth rate of a nation’s money supply, and in turn, interest rates; other important details can include key interest rate changes, the buying/selling of government bonds, and reserve requirements changes.

Published in the 2nd or 3rd week of the month by BLS, the PPI is a weighted index of prices measured at the wholesale or producer level. It shows trends within the wholesale markets, manufacturing industries and commodities markets.