Price & data methodology
Prices documented on our portals are point-in-time observations. They are empirical records of what a provider displayed at a specific moment — not permanent valuations.
Observation mechanics
Price data is collected through a combination of automated sampling and manual verification. Each data point is treated as an isolated event: the stated cost at the exact moment of capture, with its source.
We do not normalize or smooth these data points. Raw figures are retained to preserve the integrity of the historical record — accepting that short-term volatility or localized pricing may produce anomalous readings.
Why dates matter
A price without a temporal anchor is meaningless. Every observation in our records is bound to a date — and, where technically captured, a precise timestamp. This allows later analysis to account for chronology, market conditions and sequential change.
OBS_ID: 8942-A VALUE: USD 42.50 TIMESTAMP: 2026-05-27T14:32:00Z SOURCE: provider price page
Chart interpretation
Visual representations of price data use unsmoothed point-to-point lines or scatter plots. We intentionally avoid splines and curves that imply data exists between observation points.
Limitations and discrepancies
Because collection is asynchronous, an observed price can deviate from the price you see today. Regional localization, targeted promotions or rapid provider updates all cause discrepancies.
We guarantee the fidelity of the observation itself — not its perpetual accuracy. If you find a record that looks wrong, please report the observation.