Gold prices today, Monday, August 17, 2026: Gold ticks up after lower retail sales report

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.

Gold (GC=F) December futures opened at $4,440 per troy ounce on Monday, August 17, 2026, up 0.1% from Friday's closing price. The price of gold is holding this morning at $4,440.10 per troy ounce as of 9:06 a.m. ET.

The gold price opened higher Monday morning, recording a 2.4% weekly gain at the open. Weakness in the U.S. dollar and in recent economic data contributed. The U.S. Dollar Index (DX-Y.NYB) declined 0.2%, though it is up 1.2% for the year. Retail sales in July were down 0.6% after nine months of increases, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Analysts had expected a retail sales gain of 0.1%. Consumer sentiment also pulled back after two months of higher ratings. The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers reported an 8% sentiment decline in August.

Softer economic data reduces the risk of interest rate increases in the short term, which can support a higher gold price. The balance is tentative, however. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East elevates the inflation risk but could prompt safe-haven demand for gold.

The opening price of gold futures on Monday, August 17, 2026, was up 0.1% from Friday's closing price. Here's a look at how the opening gold price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

For context, the one-year gain for gold was 95.6% on Jan. 29.

24/7 gold price tracking: Don't forget you can monitor the current price of gold on Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Want to learn more about the current top-performing companies in the gold industry? Explore a list of the top-performing companies in the gold industry using the Yahoo Finance Screener. You can create your own screeners with over 150 different screening criteria.

The price of gold can be quoted in multiple forms because the precious metal is traded in different ways. The two main gold prices investors should know about are spot prices and gold futures prices.

Learn more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps

The spot price of gold is the current market price per ounce for physical gold as a raw material, sometimes called spot gold. Gold ETFs that are backed by physical gold assets generally track the gold spot price.

The spot price is lower than what you'd pay to buy gold coins, bullion, or jewelry, since your total price will include a markup called the gold premium that covers refining, marketing, dealer overhead, and profits. The spot price is more like a wholesale price, and the spot price plus the gold premium is the retail price.

Learn more: Thinking of buying gold? Here's what investors should watch for.

Gold futures are contracts that mandate a gold transaction at a specific price on a future date. These contracts are exchange-traded and more liquid than physical gold. They settle on the contract expiration date or earlier, either financially or via delivery. A financial cash settlement involves paying the contract's profit or loss in cash. Delivery means the seller sends physical gold to the buyer for the contracted price.

Supply and demand determine gold spot prices and gold futures prices. Factors that influence gold supply and demand include:

Learn more: Who decides what gold is worth? How prices are determined.

Whether you're tracking the price since last month or last year, the price of gold chart below shows the precious metal's change in value.

How high will gold go in 2026? See live gold prices, expert predictions about gold performance, and learn whether gold will reach $6,000.

The two primary gold prices investors should know are spot prices and gold futures prices. Learn the difference, the historical price of gold, and the current dynamics.

Gold prices have skyrocketed in recent years, but how high can they go next? Here are the boldest predictions for how gold will perform.

If you had $1 million in 1900, you could buy 53,000 ounces of gold. Today, that amount would be worth $278 million. See how gold prices have changed over time.

There are several ways to invest in gold. Which is best for you depends on your up-front investment and financial goals. Here are the top six ways to invest in gold.

Learn how to invest in gold by considering gold's strengths, historical behavior, and the pros and cons of physical gold versus gold mining stocks and ETFs.