Business

Gold vs Silver Timeline 2022–2026: Why Precious Metals Are Surging

Gold has been supported by central-bank reserve buying, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting real-yield and dollar expectations, trading near $4,447/oz on Se…

Swipe to explore ›
AiTimeline Home
RECORD CENTRAL-BANK BUYING

Inflation Shock, Rate Shock — and a Record Year for Central-Bank Gold Buying

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an energy shock and the fastest run of Fed rate hikes in decades pulled gold two ways: safe-haven demand up, higher real yields and a stron…

AiTimeline Home
SECOND-HIGHEST BUYING YEAR

Central Banks Buy ~1,037 Tonnes — Second-Highest on Record

Banking-sector stress, including the March 2023 U.S. regional-bank failures, and continued geopolitical risk kept official-sector gold demand elevated. Gold closed the y…

AiTimeline Home
THIRD STRAIGHT 1,000t+ YEAR

A Third Straight Year of 1,000+ Tonne Central-Bank Gold Buying

Central banks bought roughly 1,045 tonnes of gold in 2024, more than double the 2010-2021 annual average of about 473 tonnes. Gold's steady climb reflected reserve-diver…

AiTimeline Home
GOLD'S BEST YEAR SINCE 1979

Gold Gains ~65%, Silver Accelerates Into Year-End

Gold gained roughly 65% over the year, its best since 1979, on continued central-bank buying (863.3 tonnes, still the 4th-largest annual total despite a 21% YoY drop), s…

AiTimeline Home
BOTH METALS HIT RECORDS

Gold and Silver Both Hit Nominal Records Days Apart

Spot gold broke above $5,000/oz on Jan. 26, 2026, then reached a nominal record near $5,589/oz on Jan. 28-29. Silver went further, reaching a nominal all-time high near…

AiTimeline Home
SILVER CRASHES 30%+

CME Margin Hike Triggers a 30%+ Silver Crash in ~30 Hours

CME Group raised futures margin requirements after silver's parabolic run, triggering forced liquidations. Silver fell more than 30% in roughly 30 hours to an intraday l…

AiTimeline Home
THE 2026 SNAPSHOT

Both Metals Well Off Their January Peaks

As of Sept. 1, 2026, gold trades near $4,447/oz (2026 YTD roughly +3%) and silver near $66.61/oz (2026 YTD roughly -5%), both well off their January records. Fed Chair K…

AiTimeline Home

Want the full timeline?

Read the complete story, FAQs and key facts.

AiTimeline Home