According to CoinMeta, on August 17, 2026, the price of silver was boosted by weak economic data, despite the still uncertain industrial prospects. The September silver contract opened at $65.06 per ounce, down 0.1% from last Friday's closing price. As of 9:05 a.m. Eastern Time, the price of silver had risen slightly to $65.32, representing a 17.1% increase over the past month. The slowdown in the consumer spending environment may support cases for investing in silver. Last week's reports of declining retail sales and consumer confidence reduced the direct risk of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The price of silver is also affected by industrial and import demand, and the outlook is rather complex. JPMorgan Chase Global Research recently reported that two major silver importers, India and China, may reduce their future demand. The report also noted that solar panel manufacturers, which typically use large amounts of silver, are adopting new technologies to reduce their dependence on this metal.