A survey of mining executives by Pricewaterhouse­Coopers found that most think the price of gold will continue to rise in 2012.

According to the accounting firm’s 2012 Gold Price Report, 80 percent of gold mining executives queried expect the price of gold to increase throughout the year. Only 6 percent foresaw a decline.

A majority expected the price to peak at $2,000 an ounce, which would be a record. The highest prediction was $2,500, the survey said; the lowest, $1,350.