在经济衰退时期，越来越多人选择买黄金保值。认识到这一广大市场潜力后，德国一家公司推出了黄金自助售卖机，这样一来，买黄金就跟买巧克力一样容易了。据悉，这部名为“Gold to Go”的自助售金机摆放于法兰克福机场，由总部设于斯图加特的“TG-Gold超级市场”公司设计。售卖的黄金分为1克和10克装，分别售30欧元和245欧元，价格比一般市价高出约30%，且售金机内的金价每隔几分钟便会随市价更新。

Shoppers in Germany will soon be able to buy gold as easily as bars of chocolate after a firm announced plans to install vending¹ machines selling the precious metal across the country.

TG-Gold-Super-Markt aims to introduce the machines at 500 locations including train stations and airports in Germany.

The company, based near Stuttgart, hopes to tap into the increasing interest in buying gold following disillusionment in other investments due to the economic downturn.

Gold prices from the machines – about 30 per cent higher than market prices for the cheapest product – will be updated every few minutes.

Customers using a prototype "Gold to go" machine at Frankfurt Airport on Tuesday had the choice of purchasing a 1g wafer of gold for €30, a 10g bar for €245, or gold coins.

A camera on the machine monitors transactions for money laundering² controls.

Thomas Geissler, who owns the company behind the idea, said: "German investors³ have always preferred to hold a lot of personal wealth in gold, for historical reasons. They have twice lost everything.

"Gold is a good thing to have in your pocket in uncertain times."

Interest in gold has risen during the financial crisis, particularly in Germany, according to GFMS, the London-based precious metals consultancy.

Retail⁴ demand reached an estimated 108 tonnes in 2008, up from 36 tonnes in 2007 and 28 tonnes in 2006.

Jens Willenbockel, an investment banker who saw the machine while passing through the airport, told the Financial Times that he believed there could be a market for the venture.

"Because of the crisis there is a lot of awareness⁵ of gold," he said. "It is also a great gift for children – for them getting gold is like a fairytale."