Price analysis methodology
Descriptive Methodology for Price Trends
A structured, continuously evolving research method behind every price on the Pricing Dashboard. It is built to give reliable, unbiased and actionable price trend intelligence across regions and industries, from broad market movements down to product-specific pricing.
Six principles behind every price
How contributors, data and checks come together in every assessment.
Global Contributor Network
Data from producers, manufacturers, traders and distributors worldwide.
Direct Engagement
Continuous dialogue with vetted contributors for accurate pricing.
Granular Data
Collection of grade-specific, incoterm-differentiated prices for precision.
Minimum 5 Contributors
Each assessment is based on at least five independent sources.
Statistical Analysis
Captures the price reflective of true market consensus.
Multi-Layer Validation
Verified against costs, supply-demand, trade flows and historical trends.
What the methodology delivers
Four aims guide how every price trend is researched and published.
Validated price intelligence
Structured, checked price data you can rely on for planning and negotiation.
Current and projected movements
Clear visibility into where prices are today and where they are likely to head.
Risks and opportunities
Early insight into the effect of supply-demand shifts and volatility on your costs.
Model-driven insight
Analysis built on statistical models and regularly refreshed data.
Assessment approach
A multi-layered framework built on accuracy, representativeness and consistency. It reads direction and momentum, not isolated price points.
Price assessment
Analysts review historical, current and forward-looking trends using validated primary and secondary data. Regional prices are compared with global benchmarks and checked against feedstocks and related products.
Market assessment
Prices are read alongside the fundamentals that move them.
- Supply-demand dynamics
- Capacity changes
- Feedstock movements
- Trade flows
- Macroeconomic indicators
- Competitive developments
- Policy factors
From raw data to a published price
Each price passes through five stages before it reaches your dashboard.
Step 01
Data collection
Inputs come from industry stakeholders and credible secondary sources. Each is reviewed for relevance, consistency and authenticity, then triangulated across channels.
Primary researchStructured conversations with producers, traders, distributors and end users, through interviews, email and direct consultation, to capture transaction insight and short-term market signals.Secondary researchCompany disclosures, industry publications, trade statistics, regulatory data and macroeconomic indicators, each verified before use.Step 02
Analytical tools and data models
Proprietary tools normalise and statistically evaluate the price data. The frameworks are updated regularly.
- Central tendency analysis
- Trend smoothing
- Variance checks
- Historical pattern recognition
Step 03
Data prioritisation
More weight goes to reliable, representative inputs, above all repeatable, transaction-backed data and consistently reported market signals.
Step 04
Data validation
Every assessment passes multi-tier validation before it is published.
- Primary and secondary sources cross-checked
- Correlated with upstream and downstream markets
- Tested for historical consistency
Step 05
Continuous price monitoring and updates
Trends are reviewed periodically, databases are refreshed, and assessments are re-evaluated to reflect new data and structural market changes.
See the methodology at work
Open the rice sample page for prices, market summaries and analyst outlook built with this method.
Summarised from the Procurement Resource price trends methodology.
See Pricing Dashboard in action
A unified view of pricing, market movements and expert insight, built to help procurement and strategy teams act faster, plan better and stay in control.