[backslacker]

Five years ago [gold] was trading for 280$ which is 308$ in 2005 dollars. So in the past five years it has yielded you 52%, great but long term? Ten Years ago it was 380$ or 473$ in 2005 dollars or a yield or 20%, again this is pretty good lets go further back. Thirty Years ago is was about 150$, today that is 544 dollars so now you have made 8% over thirty years.

Compound growth rates (using your numbers):
5 year growth rate --->16 percent. ($280 to $588)
10 year growth rate -->4.47 percent. ($380 to $588)
Thirty year growth rate -->4.66 percent. ($150 to $588)

No need to convert to 2005 dollars. The price of gold will already reflect that. Just use raw numbers ( like stocks).

[Fan of Fiat]

So you are saying if I buy an ounce of gold for $600 in 1980, and sell the same ounce of gold for $600 today, I've broken even in real terms? Now I see why goldbugs brag about all the "bank" they make.

[N3WBI3]

Yes, there is a need to convert. If I spend 280 dollars in 1975 its not breaking even to get 280$ today..