Why Gold is Down Today

Can a continued reaction from the Fed be why gold is down today - a week after the FOMC meeting?

Both gold and silver tumbled to near three-year lows in overnight trading.

"Actually, I think we've got multiple factors at work here," Money Morning resources expert Peter Krauth told us when we asked him to explain the 4.13% ($52.80) fall in gold prices today.

"First, it's an ongoing reaction to the Fed," said Krauth. Last week Team Bernanke sent stocks and gold tumbling on the idea that the Fed's quantitative easing measures could taper by year end.

"Second, rising interest rates create a bit more opportunity cost for owning gold," continued Krauth. "Third, we're in summer now, a seasonally weak period for gold, and finally, there's ongoing apathy for gold as official inflation remains tame."

Why Gold is Down Today: GDP Hits Metals

Also weighing on precious metals Wednesday were government revisions to first quarter gross domestic product.

The broadest measure of economic activity, GDP rose a meager 1.8% annual pace in the first three months of the year, down sharply from the 2.4% pace reported by the Commerce Department in May. Economists had expected the government's final estimates to remain at 2.4%

The government revises GDP numbers several times. In fact, this was the third time the numbers were revised. But such a stark revision was a surprise.

"This was certainly unexpected and, I believe rare," Jennifer Lee, senior economics with BMO Capital Markets told CNNMoney.

The most dramatic change was a cut in the government's estimates of consumer spending growth, which dipped from 3.4% to 2.6%. Consumer spending accounts for more than 70% of the economy.

The fresh numbers paint a picture of a slowing U.S. economy as the second half of 2013 approaches. Most forecasters project the economy to turn in a sluggish 1.7% annual growth rate in Q2, according to consulting firm Moody's Analytics.

China's credit crunch has also reduced demand for physical gold.