I keep reading these news pieces that say silver prices are at an all-time high. The reality as I see it is in order for silver to be as high as it was in 1980 it would need to reach $196 adjusted for inflation.
I don't know how long it will take to get there... but I never thought I'd see it where it is right now either. Why does everyone forget about inflation? Everyone talks about Avatar being the highest grossing film of all time... but adjusted for inflation its actually Gone With the Wind! In my inventory where I track my coin purchases, I include the original price and date of purchase... but I also include the inflation adjusted price. I could have bought a coin for $2k, and it would seem like selling it for $3k would be a great deal... but inflation adjusted I'm actually losing money!
as I recall, silver was at the high for only a few hours...hardly enough time for any actual trading, but if you had sold in the blind a day earlier, then you may have made the deal.
What I've heard is that much of this may be an effort to get ahead of China's looming export restrictions on silver that are coming into effect in 2026. Essentially, if no silver can leave China, then the rest of the world then needs to compete more fiercely for what supply is left. I also think there may be some leveraged players here making some big bets, but that's a story for another day
Why isn't 1980 a inflation equation? Silver was a bit higher then than it was in 2011. The high in 2011 was $48.70 and the high in 2008 was $49.45
Silver is more valuable than gold. Gold is just flash but silver does the industrial work. Men in suits are behind locked doors now trying to figure out how to hold the price of silver down.
Industry would be hurting if it had to give up either one. If gold were cheaper, it would see a lot more industrial use.