Inflation erodes nominal claims — cash, classical bonds, fixed annuities. Those who
want to protect purchasing power need assets whose value rises with the price level.
The five most important inflation hedges at a glance.
金
Gold is the historically documented inflation hedge par excellence. Performance during the
three major inflation episodes of recent history:
- 1970s (US inflation 6–13%): Gold from $35/oz (1971) to $850/oz
(1980) — over 2,300% return in 9 years, real ~+1,000% after inflation.
- 2008–2011 (financial crisis + QE): Gold from ~$700/oz to $1,900/oz
— +170% at moderate inflation, primarily as a crisis asset.
- 2022 (CPI peak 9.1%): Gold sideways ($1,800–$2,050/oz) — weaker
performance because the USD simultaneously appreciated strongly.
Gold is therefore not a short-term inflation hedge, but a long-term
purchasing-power store. Expectation: 5–10% allocation is enough for a significant effect.
TIPS(インフレ連動米国債)
TIPS are US government bonds whose principal is adjusted monthly to the CPI.
Example calculation: you buy $10,000 TIPS with a 1% real coupon. After a year with
3% CPI inflation the principal rises to $10,300, the coupon pays 1% on the
adjusted principal ($103 instead of $100). At maturity you receive the
inflation-adjusted principal back.
Advantage: guaranteed real return. Disadvantage: in deflationary phases lower value
than nominal Treasuries (TIPS floor protects the original principal, but
not the interim adjustments). Recommended: 5–10% as inflation insurance.
商品
Broad commodity indices (Bloomberg Commodity Index, GSCI) cover three sectors:
Energy (oil, gas — sensitive to geopolitical crises), industrial metals
(copper, aluminium — business-cycle indicator) and agriculture (wheat, corn, soy —
weather- and politics-driven). 5–10% allocation is sufficient.
不動産
Direct real estate ownership or REITs (不動産 Investment Trusts) are classic
inflation hedges, because rents in inflationary periods are typically adjusted with the price level.
Caution: REITs behave short-term often like equities (same risk premium), only long-term
does the inflation adjustment of rents take effect.
インフレ連動債(欧州)
In the EU there are corresponding products: German Federal Bonds ILB
(linked to HICP), French OATi/OAT€i (linked to French or HICP index),
Italian BTP€i. Mechanics analogous to TIPS, but tax treatment
in Germany is tricky — the annual inflation adjustment is taxed as interest,
even though you do not receive the cash (phantom income).