Do Pokémon Cards Hold Up Better Than Commodities in Recessions?
People often turn to investments like gold or oil during tough economic times, hoping they stay steady when stocks crash. But what about Pokémon cards? These collectibles from the 90s and beyond have turned into big money for some owners, with rare ones selling for millions. The question is, do they beat out traditional commodities like gold, silver, or oil when recessions hit?
Commodities have a long history as safe bets in downturns. Gold, for example, tends to shine when fear grips markets because investors flock to it as a store of value. During the 2008 financial crisis, gold prices climbed about 25 percent while stocks plunged. Oil and other metals can be rockier, though. They drop hard if demand slows from factories shutting down or people driving less. In recessions, commodity prices often follow the economy’s ups and downs, tied to real-world use like fuel or building materials.
Pokémon cards work differently. They are not everyday goods but passion items for collectors and fans. Their value comes from rarity, condition, and hype, not industrial demand. Apps now let owners track prices in real time, much like stock tickers. A top card like a first-edition Charizard can hit $200,000 or more, and some ultra-rares have sold for $2 million at auction. This makes them more like art or vintage toys than raw materials.
In recessions, collectors might hold tight instead of selling. Unlike oil, which floods the market if producers keep pumping, Pokémon cards stay scarce. Supply does not grow much because no new old cards get printed. Demand can even spike if people stuck at home rediscover hobbies, similar to how gaming boomed in the pandemic. Gaming revenue jumped from under $200 billion pre-2020 to over $450 billion by 2024, showing entertainment holds up when wallets tighten.
No hard data yet compares Pokémon cards directly to commodities in past recessions, as the card market only exploded recently. But early signs point to strength. While gold held steady in 2008, sports cards and similar collectibles saw savvy buyers scoop up deals, with values rebounding fast after. Pokémon cards followed suit post-2020 dips, climbing as nostalgia fueled online sales.
Commodities face headwinds like supply gluts or trade fights, such as recent U.S.-China tensions over rare earth minerals. Pokémon cards dodge that, relying on global fan communities. Still, they are not perfect. Fads can fade, and fakes hurt trust. Grading services like PSA help by certifying quality, boosting confidence.
For everyday investors, Pokémon cards offer a fun edge over commodities. You can start small, maybe $50 for a pack, and learn as you go. Track values daily, buy low during panic sells, and focus on icons like Base Set holos. Commodities need big brokers and storage, while cards fit in a binder.
Investors like Pat Flynn highlight this shift, treating cards as alternative assets with real-time pricing tools. In a recession, when commodities might stall on weak demand, Pokémon cards could ride collector loyalty to better gains. They mix thrill with potential, proving not all treasures are mined from the ground.
