Published on Let's Talk Development

Most commodity prices surged in January, led by energy–Pink Sheet

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Energy commodity prices surged 9 percent in January, the seventh monthly gain in a row, led by an almost 30 percent increase in U.S. natural gas prices, the World Bank’s Pink Sheet reported.

Non-energy prices made solid advances as well, with metals and minerals prices gaining more than 5 percent, also the seventh consecutive monthly increase, and a five-year high. Nickel and zinc, up 12 and 8 percent respectively, led the rise.

Precious metals climbed nearly 6 percent, with similar gains in gold and silver.

Agricultural prices, which had been stable for nearly 2 years, increased more than 2 percent, led by advances in rice (+9 percent) and cotton (+5 percent). Fertilizer prices rose over 1 percent, led by DAP (+3 percent) and Urea (+2 percent).

The Pink Sheet is a monthly report that monitors commodity price movements.
 
All commodity price indexes gained in January, led by energy
Source: World Bank.

 
Industrial commodity prices continued to strengthen.
Source: World Bank.



Almost all commodity prices increased.
Nominal prices, percent changes, January over DecemberImage
Source: World Bank.

Authors

John Baffes

Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics Prospects Group

Maria Hazel Macadangdang

Research Analyst, Prospects Group, World Bank

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