The long-term trend for the price of gold has been upwards over the past century. Also, since inflation generally tends to remain positive over time, the price of gold will probably continue to rise overall in the foreseeable future. Gold is also an industrial metal with many uses in technology and jewelry, and that substantial underlying demand for physical gold seems likely to persist. With that noted, many factors contribute to the price of gold, and gold prices can dip occasionally, so properly timing your entry into the gold market can be crucial for success as a gold trader or investor.