The line graph illustrates monthly gold sales in Dubai in 2002, measured in millions of dirhams.
Overall, sales rose sharply to a pronounced peak in early spring before declining steadily to a mid-year low. After that, the figures fluctuated but recovered modestly, ending the year close to the starting level.
In January, gold sales stood at about 200 million dirhams and edged up slightly in February. They then surged to a high of roughly 350 million in March, before falling markedly to around 250 million in April.
From May onward, sales continued to drop, slipping from approximately 200 million to about 180 million in June and around 160 million in July, reaching a trough of near 120 million in August. A brief rebound followed in September, when sales climbed to just over 200 million, but this increase was short-lived as the figure fell back to around 120 million in October. In the final two months, sales rose again and stabilised at roughly 180-190 million, finishing just under 200 million in December.