Silver Breaking Higher as Inflation Heats Up Again

Silver prices surged higher this week as inflation surprised to the upside and global money supply continued expanding. Plus latest NZ gold and silver charts.
Weekly precious metals price table showing NZD and USD gold and silver prices as of 13 May 2026. USD gold closed at $4,716.54 up 3.32% for the week, while NZD gold rose to $7,933.63 up 2.24%. USD silver climbed to $86.64 up 17.88%, with NZD silver rising to $145.74 up 16.65%. NZD/USD increased to 0.5945.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Weekly Price Overview – 13 May 2026

Precious metals surged higher this week, led by silver after both metals held key long-term support levels.

🟡 NZD gold rose $174 (+2.24%) to $7,934
NZD gold rebounded after holding above the rising 200-day MA near $7,400 in March. It’s now trading between $7,600 and the 50-day MA. A break above the 50-day MA would likely signal further upside.

USD gold gained $152 (+3.32%) to $4,717
USD gold continued rebounding after holding the 200-day MA near $4,300 in March.The bottom may already be in near the 200-day MA, with that area still looking like strong long-term support.

⚪ NZD silver jumped $20.80 (+16.65%) to $145.74
NZD silver rallied strongly after briefly dipping near the rising 200-day MA around $109. It has reclaimed the 50-day MA and made a higher high above $140. RSI is nearing overbought levels, so some short-term consolidation would not be surprising. Any dip toward the 200-day MA would likely remain a strong accumulation zone.

USD silver surged $13.14 (+17.88%) to $86.64
USD silver rebounded after testing the uptrend line and 200-day MA near $64. It has since broken above $83 and made a fresh higher high. Silver is becoming stretched short term after the sharp rally.

💱 NZD/USD rose 62 basis points (+1.05%) to 0.5945
The Kiwi dollar strengthened this week but remains in a broader downtrend. That continues supporting NZD precious metals prices. NZD/USD is now back above the 50-day MA, though a sustained move above 0.61 is still needed to confirm a trend reversal.

Two long-term gold charts showing NZD and USD gold prices rebounding strongly from their 200-day moving averages. NZD gold has recovered toward the 50-day moving average after holding support near $7,400. USD gold has rebounded from around $4,300 and is testing a red downtrend resistance line near $4,700.
Two long-term silver charts showing NZD and USD silver prices surging higher after bouncing from their 200-day moving averages. NZD silver reclaimed the 50-day moving average and broke above $140, while USD silver rallied above $83 after rebounding from support near $64.
Long-term NZD/USD currency chart showing the Kiwi dollar rebounding to 0.5945 and moving back above the 50-day moving average. Despite the recent recovery, the broader trend remains downward, with major resistance still near 0.61.

What Type of Gold Bar Should I Buy in 2026?

One of the most common questions we receive is which gold bar is best to buy? 

In this updated guide we break down:

  • The best gold bar sizes for beginners vs larger investors
  • The pros and cons of cast vs minted bars
  • Which brands are most recognised worldwide
  • And why many experienced investors prefer lower-premium bars

Read the full guide here:

What Type of Gold Bar Should I Buy in 2026?

Best gold bars to buy in 2026 featuring cast vs minted gold bars, size comparison from 1g to 1kg, and popular bullion brands including PAMP, Valcambi and Scottsdale Mint.

Does Gold Seasonality Affect the NZ Dollar Gold Price?

You’ve probably heard the saying:

“Sell in May and go away.”

But does gold really follow seasonal patterns?
And more importantly — does that also apply to New Zealand dollar gold prices?

For Kiwi investors, the answer is more complicated because the NZ dollar can dramatically change how gold performs locally.

In this new guide we cover:

  • What gold seasonality actually means
  • Why gold often performs better later in the year
  • How NZ dollar movements change the pattern
  • And what 21 years of NZ gold price data reveals

Read the full article here:

Does Gold Seasonality Affect the NZ Dollar Gold Price?

If you’re waiting for a “better time” to buy gold, this article is worth reading first.

Featured image showing NZ gold price seasonality with gold bars, NZ-themed gold coins, and a rising gold price chart illustrating historical patterns in NZ dollar gold prices.

Currency Supply Growth Continues

Last week we looked at how individual countries continue expanding currency supply despite the inflation surge of recent years.

This week, another chart from macro analyst Tavi Costa highlights just how significant that growth has become globally.

Chart showing global money supply rising sharply from around US$105 trillion in 2024 to nearly US$122 trillion in 2026. The chart highlights an increase of approximately US$17 trillion over the past two years.

Costa notes:

“Global money supply surged by $17T in the last 2 years.
War is not the only driver of inflation.
Policymakers have been pouring liquidity into the system the entire time.”

Precious metals have historically performed well when currency supply expands rapidly.

At the same time, US inflation data came in hotter than expected again this week.

ASB reported:

“US CPI advanced 0.6% m/m over April. This takes annual inflation to 3.8% – its highest since 2023. Core (ex-food and energy) increased to 2.8%. The results overcooked expectations.”

Lobo Tiggre added:

“[New Fed Chair] Warsh is gonna have fun in the hot seat…”

We wouldn’t say these inflation figures alone caused silver’s latest move higher.

But they likely strengthen the case for holding hard assets while governments continue expanding currency supply.

Silver Appears to be Breaking Higher

Silver has now rebounded strongly after several volatile months of consolidation.

This chart from Tavi Costa suggests silver may now be breaking out of the large consolidation pattern that formed after January’s sharp rally.

Daily silver price chart showing a large triangular consolidation pattern forming between January and May 2026. Price is now breaking above the upper trendline near US$85, suggesting a potential upside breakout after several months of consolidation.

Costa commented:

“Commodities never peak when structural demand is rising while both current and future supply remain heavily constrained.”

Silver supply also remains constrained, while industrial demand continues growing from areas like solar, electrification and AI infrastructure.

That helps explain why silver has remained resilient despite several sharp pullbacks this year.

Silver Still Strong Across Global Currencies

One important point from the In Gold We Trust report is that silver’s strength is global.

Silver has risen this year across almost every major global currency.

Table showing silver performance across major global currencies from 2000 to 2026 YTD. Silver is positive in nearly every major currency during 2026, with gains averaging around 12.5% year to date. Long-term annualised silver returns since 2000 average roughly 10–11% across most currencies.

Source: In Gold We Trust Report

As of mid-April:

  • Silver in USD was up 13.4% YTD
  • Average gains across major currencies were 12.5% YTD

(Interestingly, silver is still lagging gold’s long-term performance.) 

This is not simply a weak US dollar story.

Instead, it points to broader concerns around inflation and currency debasement. And a growing investor interest in hard assets

The report also noted an important feature of secular bull markets:

Pullbacks remain sharp, but recoveries are becoming faster.

That describes silver so far this year.

Silver remains volatile. 

But long-term investors have historically been rewarded for tolerating that volatility.

But Silver Still Looks Cheap Relative to Financial Assets

Even after the recent rally, silver still looks historically cheap relative to financial assets.

This chart shows silver remains near multi-decade lows relative to the S&P 500.

Long-term chart comparing silver prices to the S&P 500 index from 1970 to 2026. The silver-to-S&P ratio remains near historical lows around 0.011, far below the peaks reached during the 1980 precious metals bull market.

Source: Jaime Carrasco

In simple terms, stocks still look expensive relative to silver by historical standards.

Back in 1980, silver briefly reached almost half the value of the S&P 500 index.

Today that ratio sits near 0.011.

That does not mean silver must repeat the moves of the late 1970s.

But it does show how out of favour precious metals still are after decades of money flowing into stocks and property.

If confidence in financial assets weakens, silver could still have substantial upside relative to equities.

Now may be a good time to review your precious metals allocation — feel free to contact us below for a quote or to discuss the market further.

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