Storyline: Gold demand rises in China as peak sales season nears [Voice_over] Both futures and spot gold prices keep climbing in China- more than 30 percent already this year- making it one of the world's top-performing commodities. With the October first National Day holiday fast approaching, many people are looking for gold jewelry to give as gifts, which is also pumping up prices. But people keep buying it. Official data shows that gold sales in August were about 40 percent higher than August of 2024, and about 35 percent higher than the month of July. And for those who want to cash in their gold, recycling prices are also going up. According to a seller in south China's Shenzhen City, the price is going up at a rate of nearly one U.S. dollar, per day. [Sound_bite] Xiao Zaihong, gold seller: "Recently, the recycling price has risen by an average of about 9 cents to 1.1 U.S. dollars per day, much more than in previous weeks when it increased steadily by only 1 to 2 cents per day. Compared to a few weeks ago, the second-hand gold sales volume has grown by about 50 percent." [Voice_over] Economists the world over agree that, as a safe-haven investment, gold is the commodity of choice, especially during the continued uncertainty surrounding the US's trade policies and attempts to undermine its own Federal Reserve Bank. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]