Gold inched up on Friday ahead of a key US inflation report, but prices were on track for their first weekly drop in six weeks on easing concerns of a major escalation of the Middle East crisis. Spot gold rose 0.3% at $2,339.32 per ounce by 0640 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.4% at $2,351.20, Reuters said. However, for the week, prices were down 2.3%, set for their biggest weekly drop since early December, after a major escalation in the Middle East crisis was avoided. Prices were down nearly $100 from an all-time high of $2,431.29 scaled on April 12.