Gold Price History · The Free-Float Era
1988 in context · real value, 1968–2008
In 1988, gold averaged $437 an ounce — about $1,189 in today's money. That was down 2.1% on the year in nominal terms (−6.0% after inflation). In the free-float era the price is set entirely by markets, so each year carries its own distinct story of inflation, crisis, and confidence in paper money.
To see 1988 in the full sweep of the gold price, explore the 768-year ribbon, or find out what a 1988 gold investment would be worth today on the gold calculator.
Run the numbers across gold, stocks, housing, and bonds — adjusted for inflation.
Calculate 1988 →Value at year-end of $10,000 invested on 1 January 1988.
Annual-average basis. Gold: Officer & Williamson; S&P 500 & Treasuries: Damodaran (NYU); housing: Shiller; CPI: BLS. Methodology →
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 →