Gold Price in 1978
MONTHLY AVERAGES, US DOLLARS PER TROY OUNCE.
The highest month of 1978 was October at $227. The lowest was January at $173. The 1978 average was +30.81% compared with the 1977 average ($148). From January to December the monthly average moved +20.23%.
Gold price by month, 1978
| Month | Average per oz | Change from prior month |
|---|---|---|
| January (low) | $173 | +8.13% |
| February | $178 | +2.89% |
| March | $184 | +3.37% |
| April | $175 | −4.89% |
| May | $176 | +0.57% |
| June | $184 | +4.55% |
| July | $189 | +2.72% |
| August | $206 | +8.99% |
| September | $212 | +2.91% |
| October (high) | $227 | +7.08% |
| November | $206 | −9.25% |
| December | $208 | +0.97% |
Each figure is the average of the daily prices in that month, so the high and low are the highest and lowest monthly averages, not the highest and lowest price on a single day.
1978 price in 2025 dollars
A $193 average in 1978 equals about $954 in 2025 dollars, using the consumer price index (CPI-U). For comparison, the gold price today is shown on the live gold price page.
Inflation data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U all items, U.S. city average (series CUUR0000SA0), annual average, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The adjustment reflects general consumer prices only.
Gold price in other years
Quick answers
What was the price of gold in 1978?
The monthly average gold price in 1978 was $193 per troy ounce (the mean of the 12 monthly averages). The highest month was October at $227. The lowest was January at $173.
What was the gold price per gram in 1978?
$6.21 per gram on average in 1978, which is the ounce price divided by 31.1035.
What is the 1978 gold price in today's dollars?
Using the U.S. consumer price index (CPI-U), an average 1978 price of $193 equals about $954 in 2025 dollars. This only adjusts for general consumer prices. It says nothing about what gold was worth to a buyer at the time.
Where does this data come from?
Monthly averages are from the World Bank Commodity Price Data (the Pink Sheet), published under CC BY 4.0. Prices are monthly averages, not daily highs and lows, and the World Bank publishes them rounded.
Source: The World Bank, Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), October 2026 release, CC BY 4.0. worldbank.org. Historical prices are for information, not a quote.