2006 was a banner year, with gold surging to its highest level in more than a quarter-century and finally erasing the memory of the long bear market. Strong investment demand, central banks slowing their sales, and a buoyant commodities supercycle all drove the metal sharply higher. The advance was a milestone: gold was no longer recovering from its lows but setting new multi-decade records on its way toward the financial crisis of 2008 and beyond.
Gold Price History · The Free-Float Era
2006
A Breakout Year
Gold surged to a 26-year high, leaving its long bear market decisively behind.
- Average price
- $604/oz
- In 2025 dollars
- $964/oz
- Change on the year
- +35.8%
- After inflation
- +31.6%
2006 in context · real value, 1986–2025
What would $10,000 of gold in 2006 be worth today?
Run the numbers across gold, stocks, housing, and bonds — adjusted for inflation.
Calculate 2006 →How gold did in 2006
Value at year-end of $10,000 invested on 1 January 2006.
Gold $13,585 +35.8%
S&P 500 (total return) $11,561 +15.6%
US housing $10,174 +1.7%
Inflation (CPI) $10,323 +3.2%
Annual-average basis. Gold: Officer & Williamson; S&P 500 & Treasuries: Damodaran (NYU); housing: Shiller; CPI: BLS. Methodology →
Related years
Sources. Gold price: Officer & Williamson, The Price of Gold, 1257–Present (annual average); inflation adjustment by US CPI (BLS / Officer & Williamson). Asset comparison from the calculator dataset. Figures are annual averages. Full methodology →