Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend you focus on the materials your suppliers reference most during price increase conversations, and then add more as you see a need for them. ProPurchaser’s library covers most manufacturing commodities.
A silent slope occurs when a supplier’s input costs decline, but the price you pay stays the same. ProPurchaser flags these patterns so buyers can negotiate reductions backed by hard data.
Opening prices are published approximately one month earlier than averages. Since raw material cost increases typically flow through to supplier pricing 2–6 months later, tracking opening prices gives buyers advance visibility—and more time to prepare for potential supplier increases.
ProPurchaser tracks opening and average prices across commodities covering 99% of manufacturing inputs—including steel, aluminum, plastics, chemicals, corrugated packaging, and more. Data is aggregated from hundreds of verified sources and reviewed by industry experts.
