Another Kind of Black Gold

On December 17, 2006 the S&P 500 closed at 1,422.48. Yesterday, it closed at 1,445.90 for a one year gain of 1.65%.

Unfortunately, the inflation rate over that period was measured at higher rates in each and every month of the timeframe with the highest rates of 3.54% and 4.31% coming in October and November (the last two months for which data is available.)

Investors should have looked for something racier. Something with more growth potential. Something like Iowa farm land. From the Des Moines Register:

Iowa farmland increased 22 percent in the last year, the highest increase in 21 years, according to a survey by Iowa State University Extension.

Five counties now boast an average "good" agricultural land value of over $5,000 per acre.