Spot gold was down 1.5% at $4,019.12 per ounce

Gold prices dropped more than 1% on Monday, pressured by a stronger dollar as investors awaited delayed economic data this week that could offer clues on the U.S. central bank’s policy path.

Spot gold was down 1.5% at $4,019.12 per ounce, as of 20:13 GMT.

The dollar index inched higher, making dollar-priced bullion expensive for holders of other currencies.

The market is seeing some back and forth choppy action ahead of what is expected to be a release of a deluge of economic data now that the U.S. government has reopened, said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.

Right now, there’s a lesser expectation for additional Fed rate cuts, which has dented optimism for gold, he added.

This week’s calendar includes September jobs data on Thursday and minutes from the U.S. central bank’s last meeting, where it cut rates by 25 basis points, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of central bank policymakers have maintained a hawkish stance on rate cuts for the bank’s next meeting in December.

Traders are currently pricing in a 41% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December, down from more than 60% last week, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Central bank Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said the U.S. central bank needs to “proceed slowly” with any further interest rate cuts as it eases policy towards a level that would likely stop putting downward pressure on inflation.

Safe-haven gold tends to thrive in a low-interest-rate environment as it is a non-yielding asset.

Scotiabank analysts estimate gold prices at $3,800/oz for 2026, compared with $3,450/oz this year, citing uncertain economic conditions and an eventual decline in real interest rates.