Fewer Australian bullion products sold in May compared to the prior month and from the same period last year, Perth Mint sales figures released on Friday show.
The monthly decline is a second in a row for both gold and silver sales, and contrasts sharply from a year ago when they scored three-and four-month highs. The downturn happened as most London precious metals marked gains in May with gold and silver each rising 0.9%.
Perth Mint gold coins and gold bars rose 21,671 ounces last month, dropping 18.4% from the 26,545 ounces sold in April and falling 40% from the 36,127 ounces that were delivered in May 2014. Gold sales in the January to May period total 137,631 ounces, off 31.7% from last year’s opening five-month total of 201,586 ounces.
Perth Mint silver coins at 337,511 ounces in May fell 28.5% from the prior month’s 472,273 ounces and plunged 46.5% from sales of 630,349 ounces in May of last year. For the year-to-date, silver sales combine to 2,426,408 ounces, slipping 14.6% from the same five-month start in 2014 when sales reached 2,841,978 ounces.
Perth Mint Gold and Silver Sales by Month
Below is a monthly breakdown of Perth Mint bullion sales from May 2014 to May 2015.
| Perth Mint Bullion Sales (in troy ounces) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold | |
| May 2015 | 337,511 | 21,671 |
| April 2015 | 472,273 | 26,545 |
| March 2015 | 638,557 | 34,260 |
| February 2015 | 392,114 | 31,981 |
| January 2015 | 585,953 | 23,174 |
| December 2014 | 477,731 | 40,211 |
| November 2014 | 851,836 | 49,904 |
| October 2014 | 655,881 | 55,350 |
| September 2014 | 756,839 | 68,781 |
| August 2014 | 818,856 | 36,369 |
| July 2014 | 577,988 | 25,103 |
| June 2014 | 586,358 | 39,405 |
| May 2014 | 630,349 | 36,127 |
United States Mint Bullion Sales in May
U.S. Mint bullion sales in May also declined from their prior month and year ago levels. The agency’s core American Gold Eagles at 21,500 ounces dropped 27.1% from April and 39.4% from May 2014. Its popular American Silver Eagles at 2,023,500 ounces fell 29% from the prior month and dived 49.3% from a year ago.
