Gold futures rose to a record settlement price for the second straight day after U.S. wholesale costs rose more than forecast in July, spurring demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
An index of producer prices gained 0.2 percent last month, the Labor Department said today. Economists forecast a 0.1 percent increase. The so-called core measure, which excludes food and energy, climbed 0.4 percent, the most since January. The dollar fell as much as 0.8 percent against a six-currency basket. Gold has gained 26 percent this year, reaching an intraday all-time high of $1,817.60 an ounce on Aug. 11.
