A commodity, currency or other type of capital that is tradable and can be stored for future use. It is a fundamental component of the economic system because it allows trade to occur with items that have inherent value. An example of a store of value is currency, which can be exchanged for goods and services. If the value of currency becomes unpredictable, such as in times of hyperinflation, investors and consumers will shift to alternative stores of value, such as gold, silver, precious stones and real estate.