How to read eFacts prices: units, sources and update dates
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A price becomes useful when you know what it measures. Before comparing two figures, check their source, unit, currency and publication date. The eFacts price cards display these details so readers can distinguish a market quote from a published tariff or a monthly benchmark.
Gold and other metals
The metals page displays provider quotes in US dollars per troy ounce. Any gold price shown per gram is a calculated estimate for the stated purity. Jewellery workmanship, dealer margins and other charges can make a shop’s final price different. Always check the provider timestamp before using a quote.
Wheat and natural gas
Our World Bank wheat and US natural-gas indicators are monthly benchmark averages. They do not track every movement during the trading day. Wheat is displayed in dollars per metric ton; natural gas uses dollars per MMBtu. The US natural-gas benchmark is a different product from a Lebanese LPG cylinder.
Local prices and published rates
For gasoline, read the quantity alongside the price. A quote per 20 litres cannot be compared directly with a quote per litre. Electricity cards identify the tariff being shown; an energy charge alone is not the full bill. VAT is a published percentage rather than a traded commodity price.
A quick reading checklist
- Compare the same product, currency and unit.
- Read the source date and the stated update frequency.
- Open the linked source for the original publication.
- If a feed is unavailable, treat a retained earlier value according to its displayed date.
Explore our prices and rates and gold and metals pages.
References: World Bank commodity markets and Gold API.
