Central banks purchased significantly less gold in the early months of 2026 than previously estimated, according to revised data from the World Gold Council (WGC).
The updated figures indicate a softer start to official sector demand, challenging earlier assumptions about the pace of reserve accumulation at the beginning of the year.
Despite the weak opening, the WGC report notes that demand recovered strongly in the following months.
This rebound helped sustain the broader trend of central banks diversifying reserves, even as the total volume for the initial period fell short of initial projections.
The discrepancy highlights the volatility in official sector buying patterns, which can shift rapidly based on pricing and geopolitical considerations.
The revised data comes as gold prices have shown signs of stabilizing after a sharp quarterly decline.