March 17 (Reuters) - Gold prices, on Monday, stayed just shy of the $3,000-per-ounce milestone scaled in the previous session, as the escalating U.S.-driven tariff war now also threatens economic growth, adding to other geopolitical tensions.
Spot gold had firmed 0.1% to $2,988.68 an ounce as of 0715 GMT. It hit a record high of $3,004.86 on Friday.
U.S. gold futures eased 0.3% to $2,992.30.
Fears that President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs would boost prices and undercut the economy came home to roost as recent data showed consumer sentiment plunged to a nearly 2-1/2-year low in March and inflation expectations soared.