The Evolving Role of Gold as an Inflation Hedge: Evidence from Europe and the United States

This study investigates the intricate relationship between inflation and gold prices, with a focus on temporal dynamics and regional differences in Europe and the United States. Using monthly data and examining lagged effects of up to 4 months, it provides a thorough analysis of how inflation, measured through the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), influences gold prices across various price levels. The results confirm that gold acts as a reliable short-term hedge against inflation, especially for higher price levels, with the strongest effects occurring at lag periods of 1.5 to 2 months. However, over longer lag periods, the relationship weakens significantly, with cumulative impacts turning negative, particularly for lower price ranges These findings underscore the temporal complexity of gold's effectiveness as an inflation hedge and its susceptibility to broader macroeconomic influences. A distinguishing feature of this study is its combination of temporal analysis with a comparative regional framework, which uncovers meaningful differences between Europe and the U.S. While both regions show strong short-term positive correlations between inflation and gold prices, the U.S. exhibits a sharper decline in cumulative effects over longer lag periods, likely due to greater sensitivity to external factors such as monetary policies and currency fluctuations. The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers and investors, highlighting the need for strategies that consider the timing and regional context when using gold as a tool to counter inflation.