CHICAGO, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose on Tuesday as annual U.S. inflation skyrocketed to a 40-year high in March.

       The most active gold contract for June delivery rose 27.9 U.S. dollars, or 1.43 percent, to close at 1,976.1 dollars per ounce.

       U.S. Labor Department reported on Tuesday that U.S. consumer price index, a measure of inflation, jumped 8.5 percent from a year ago on an unadjusted basis in March, above the market estimate of 8.4 percent and the fastest gain since December 1981.

       Gold found additional support as the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism Index decreased to 93.2 in March from 95.7 in February, falling to the lowest level since April 2020.

       Falling U.S. Treasury yields further supported gold.

       Silver for May delivery rose 74.8 cents, or 2.99 percent, to close at 25.735 dollars per ounce. Platinum for July delivery fell 5.4 dollars, or 0.55 percent, to close at 972.4 dollars per ounce.