Also, in the one 5% plus inflation surge that was in this data set, the CRB index produced a nominal compound return of 1.58% and a real return of minus 3.32%.

FORBES: Gold's Twelve Month March To $3,800

What I do know is that for the limited data set I have, the CRB index produced a nominal compound return of 0.77%, a real return of minus 2.16%, a standard deviation that is twice that of Treasuries, had a twelve month period with a loss of 48.74% and had a 27 year period with a negative compound return.

FORBES: Gold's Twelve Month March To $3,800

The high yield index certainly yields less in nominal terms than it did around the last two recessions in 2011and late-2007 to mid-2009.

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Note, for instance, that its vertical axes show nominal prices (dollars per ounce for gold, index value for the tech-stock Nasdaq).

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