Mining Costs Are Rising. Global total cash costs increasing by an average of 3%, or $14 per ounce in 2009, to $478 per ounce. GFMS has calculated that the "true" long-term cost of gold mine production — including things like exploration, expansion capital costs, project development and more — at somewhere between $925 per ounce and $950 per ounce. You can bet that as mining costs rise, miners will pass along those costs to consumers.

Question, How are the cost passed along to the consumer? Higher Gold? miners don't control price of Gold, not sure what it means.