What are the best commodities for inflation?
Many investments have been historically viewed as hedges—or protection—against inflation. These include real estate, commodities, and certain types of stocks and bonds. Commodities include raw materials and agricultural products like oil, copper, cotton, soybeans, and orange juice.
Three of the most commonly traded commodities include oil, gold, and base metals.
Crypto assets have similar investment properties as gold and silver. Both are a store of value and a potential hedge against inflation and geopolitical and economic risks. As more investors turn to cryptocurrencies, investor demand for gold and silver could diminish, pulling down their prices.
Few assets benefit from rising inflation, particularly unexpected inflation, but commodities usually do. As the demand for goods and services increases, the price of goods and services rises as does the price of the commodities used to produce those goods and services.
FCOJ and cocoa lead softs- Cattle prices rally
Coffee, cocoa, and FCOJ prices soared in 2023. With under one week to go in 2023, coffee futures were over 15% higher, while cocoa futures gained nearly 65%. As the chart shows, cocoa futures soared, leading the soft commodities sector in 2023.
Crude oil is by far the biggest commodity market, and oil prices were the talk of the town for much of 2022. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, WTI crude oil prices rose to their highest level since 2013 by May 2022.
A GlobalData poll found that gold, lithium, and copper are among the commodities set to see the greatest price increases in 2024. The lower price of lithium has been attributed to weaker-than-expected demand for EVs.
Savings Bonds
Some inflation-avoiders are turning to savings bonds, which the U.S. Treasury sells directly to investors. These are typically considered safe investments because the value can't decline, which makes them a stabilizing investment during inflation or other periods of uncertainty.
The real estate can be an attractive long-term investment option where the property value increases over time. Real estate provides better returns than gold without much volatility. Additionally, when the market improves, so does the value of your property.
Gold remains a reliable choice for wealth preservation, while silver offers affordability and industrial uses. Platinum and palladium can provide diversification and potentially higher returns but come with increased volatility and limited investment options.
Who is getting rich from inflation?
1. Collectors. Historically, collectibles like fine art, wine, or baseball cards can benefit from inflationary periods as the dollar loses purchasing power. During high inflation, investors often turn to hard assets that are more likely to retain their value through market volatility.
In general, when inflation is high it's best to prioritize paying off variable-rate loans which will have a higher interest rate when inflation affects the wider economic environment.
![What are the best commodities for inflation? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3cLiS9CgphE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCOADEI4CSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLDy2mXWcDivY5Z2O3HEgCj0tqUdBA)
Precious metals, like gold or silver, tend to perform well during market slowdowns. But since the demand for these kinds of commodities often increases during recessions, their prices usually go up too. You can invest in precious metals in a few different ways.
As always, gold remains a 'safe-haven' asset. As a tried-and-tested hedge against inflation during times of economic uncertainty (due to the fact it's not tied to any issuer or government), many people are investing in this precious metal. And we all know what that means – higher prices!
Inflation allows borrowers to pay lenders back with money worth less than when it was originally borrowed, which benefits borrowers. When inflation causes higher prices, the demand for credit increases, raising interest rates, which benefits lenders.
Some stock market sectors, like health care and consumer staples, generally perform better than others in a recession. Healthy large cap stocks also tend to hold up relatively well during downturns. Investing in broad funds can help reduce recession risk through diversification.
2023 Winners
In a breakthrough year, the promise of AI's potential catapulted the tech sector to 56% returns. Chipmaker Nvidia skyrocketed 239% as demand for AI chips accelerated. Apple and Microsoft each had banner years after a dismal 2022.
Lithium, cobalt, graphite—the demand for these essential components in EV cars and batteries is already starting to spike. And let's not forget the demand growth that is now being forecast for copper and high-grade nickel.
Crude Oil
Crude oil is the commodity with the highest trading volume. It is used for the extraction of petrol, diesel, and petrochemicals. Brent oil and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are the two most traded types of crude oil. The price of crude can fluctuate according to the level of industrial activity.
Markets will be more exposed to shocks, of which three stand out: a sharp economic rebound, bad weather and military blow-ups.
Should I invest in commodities in 2024?
Outlook: Political Conflicts are Paving the Way for Higher Global Commodity Demand. The longer-term bull market in commodities could resume in 2024. Supply will continue to be challenging as the world transitions away from traditional energy to more renewable sources of energy.
“In terms of household well-being, inflation is a net boon to the middle class. The top 1% of the wealth distribution also gains handsomely from inflation. On the other hand, poor households (the bottom two quintiles in terms of wealth) get clobbered by inflation,” he wrote.
Historically, gold has performed well during inflationary periods.
Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.
Inflation FAQs
Examples include diversified index funds, as well as carefully investing in things like gold, real estate, Series I savings bonds and TIPS.
References
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/best-investments-to-beat-inflation/
- https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/01/04/three-surprises-that-could-inflame-commodity-markets-in-2024
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/commodities:-which-are-doing-the-best-in-2023
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0412/the-3-best-commodities-to-invest-in.aspx
- https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/the-top-10-best-and-worst-performing-commodities-of-2022/
- https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en/pages/energy-and-resources/articles/commodities-of-the-future-predicting-tomorrows-disruptors.html
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-gold-still-a-good-hedge-against-inflation-experts-weigh-in/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/05/021605.asp
- https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/materials/metal-stocks/precious-metal-stocks/
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- https://www.coverfox.com/life-insurance/investment-plans/real-estate-vs-gold/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-precious-metal-is-best-to-invest-in/
- https://www.earn2trade.com/blog/top-10-most-traded-commodities/
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- https://blog.huecu.org/managing-debt-during-inflation
- https://www.mining-technology.com/analyst-comment/commodities-price-increases-2024/
- https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/natural-resources/commodities-back-on-track-in-2024/
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/where-do-millionaires-keep-their-money
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/111414/does-inflation-favor-lenders-or-borrowers.asp
- https://smartasset.com/investing/best-investments-for-inflation
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/what-to-invest-in-during-recession
- https://northern-insight.co.uk/business/the-best-and-worst-performing-commodities-of-2023/
- https://insights.masterworks.com/finance/investing-strategies/who-benefits-from-inflation/