Understand units and purity
Learn why precious metals use troy ounces, how grams relate to that unit, and how karat or fineness changes the quantity of fine metal in an item.
Read the weight guide →Metal and commodity price guides.
Learn how to read metal prices, weight units, purity, premiums, currency conversion, historical charts and energy benchmarks before using a reference value.
Use these guides alongside the metal price directory, energy benchmark directory and calculation tools. For a visual starting point, explore the commodities inside a phone, car, home or farm. Each guide links back to relevant prices and assumptions.
Start with the question behind the price.
Separate reference price from transaction price
A benchmark, bullion invoice and scrap offer can include different costs. The premium and spread guides show which terms need to be kept separate.
Read about premiums →Compare markets without mixing units
Historical and ratio guides explain shared dates, indexed charts, source frequency and why a relationship between two series is not a forecast.
Read the chart guide →Commodity price guides
A refinery needs the right kind of barrel.
Why the United States imports oil when it produces so much