# Tacto Cost Reference

Canonical: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents

What industrial goods should cost, and why, for procurement agents and the people behind them.

Cost structures, the indices that move them, and a verdict on supplier price changes. Every number with its source.

## Connect in a minute

No sign-up and no key. One prompt for any agent: it adds the server itself, or tells you the steps.

Prompt for your agent:

```text
Connect the Tacto Cost Reference MCP server: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-agent (Streamable HTTP, no authentication). If you can add MCP servers yourself, add it as "tacto-cost-reference"; if not, tell me the exact steps for the app I'm using. Then use it whenever I ask whether a supplier's price increase is justified, what drives the cost of an industrial item, or how its cost drivers moved.
```

The MCP address, for any client that takes one:

MCP address:

```text
https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing
```

### Claude

Customize → Connectors → + Add → **Add custom connector**. Name it Tacto Cost Reference, paste the MCP address and choose No sign in. On Team and Enterprise an owner adds it once under Organization settings → Connectors.

MCP address for Claude:

```text
https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-claude
```

### Claude Code

```sh
claude mcp add --transport http tacto-cost-reference https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-claude_code
```

### ChatGPT

On chatgpt.com/plugins: + → **Add custom MCP server**. Name it Tacto Cost Reference, choose Public endpoint, paste the MCP address, set No authentication and create it as a plugin. Then pick it with @ in a new chat. Which plans may add servers is up to OpenAI and your workspace admin.

MCP address for ChatGPT:

```text
https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-chatgpt
```

### Microsoft Copilot

In Copilot Studio, open your agent → Tools → **Add a tool → Model Context Protocol**. Name it Tacto Cost Reference, paste the MCP address and choose No authentication, then publish the agent to Microsoft 365 Copilot or Teams.

MCP address for Copilot:

```text
https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-copilot
```

### Cursor

In `~/.cursor/mcp.json` or the project's `.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tacto-cost-reference": {
      "url": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-cursor"
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

In `.vscode/mcp.json`, or run MCP: Add Server → HTTP and paste the MCP address:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "tacto-cost-reference": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/mcp?via=landing-vscode"
    }
  }
}
```

### HTTP API

The same tools as `POST https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/<tool>` with the tool's arguments as JSON. [OpenAPI](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/openapi.json).

```sh
curl -s 'https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/audit_price_change?via=landing-api' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"item":"aluminium die-cast housing","country":"DE","requestedChange":0.09,"oldPriceDate":"2025-03","effectiveDate":"2027-01"}'
```

## How to ask (no setup)

No key, account or sign-up: open the link, or have your agent open it. Answers are Markdown. Every tool answers `GET https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/<tool>?…` with its inputs as query parameters; a price is `oldPrice=100&newPrice=109&currency=EUR&per=piece`. Every cost page has ready links for its category.

- Audit a price change: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/audit_price_change?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&country=DE&oldPrice=100&newPrice=109&currency=EUR&per=piece&oldPriceDate=2025-03&effectiveDate=2026-01](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/audit_price_change?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&country=DE&oldPrice=100&newPrice=109&currency=EUR&per=piece&oldPriceDate=2025-03&effectiveDate=2026-01)
- Get an item's cost structure: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/get_cost_structure?item=steel%20forgings&market=US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/get_cost_structure?item=steel%20forgings&market=US)
- Track an item's cost drivers: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/track_cost_drivers?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&market=EU&since=2025-03](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/track_cost_drivers?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&market=EU&since=2025-03)
- Compare countries: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/compare_countries?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&countries=US,DE](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/compare_countries?item=aluminium%20die-cast%20housing&countries=US,DE)
- Ask a cost question: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/ask_cost_question?question=Why%20did%20die-casting%20prices%20rise%3F](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/ask_cost_question?question=Why%20did%20die-casting%20prices%20rise%3F)

## What you can ask

### Is this price increase justified?

A verdict, the justified range, each cost driver's index move and what to ask the supplier. Example: “Our German supplier wants 9 % more for aluminium die-cast housings from January; the old price was set in March 2025. How much of that do the cost drivers justify?” (`audit_price_change`)

### What drives the cost of this item?

Materials, labour, energy and the rest, each with its share, basis and index. Example: “What is the cost structure of steel forgings made in the US?” (`get_cost_structure`)

### What moved since the price was set?

Each driver's index move since that month, weighted by its share. Example: “How did the cost drivers of aluminium die-castings move since March 2025?” (`track_cost_drivers`)

### How does the same item compare in the US and in Europe?

Cost shares, labour cost and price trend side by side. Example: “Compare aluminium die-cast housings made in the US and in Germany.” (`compare_countries`)

### Anything else about what an item costs, in any language.

Routed to the right tool, or a plain "not covered yet" with the closest categories. Example: “Warum sind die Preise für Aluminiumdruckguss gestiegen?” (`ask_cost_question`)

### Next

- Part-level should-cost (`estimate_part_cost`): [tell us you need it](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs#tell-me-when).
- An absolute quote check (`audit_quote`): [tell us you need it](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs#tell-me-when).
- Named suppliers (`find_suppliers`): [tell us you need it](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs#tell-me-when).

## A worked example

**Asked:** “Our German supplier wants 9 % more for aluminium die-cast housings from January; the old price was set in March 2025. How much of that do the cost drivers justify?”

**Answer:** Justified: the +9 % asked is within what the item's cost drivers justify, about +10.4 % (+6.1 % to +14.8 %).

- Aluminium and semi-finished products: +15.7 % since 2025-03
- Electricity prices for non-household consumers - bi-annual data · Electricity · Consumption from 2 000 MWh to 19 999 MWh - band ID · Kilowatt-hour · Excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies · Euro · Germany: −10.5 % since 2024-12
- Labour cost index by NACE Rev. 2 activity - nominal value, quarterly data · Calendar adjusted data, not seasonally adjusted data · Index, 2020=100 · Labour cost for LCI (compensation of employees plus taxes minus subsidies) · Germany · Manufacturing: +3.4 % since 2025-03
- Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · Germany · Casting of light metals: +5.2 % since 2025-03
- Ask the supplier for: The index and base month they price from
- Ask the supplier for: Aluminium's share of the price

Receipt with every source: [https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example) (each answer gets its own).

## Coverage

- 30 categories of industrial goods, in the US and in Europe (EU27, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Italy).
- From public statistics: BLS, US Census, Eurostat and the World Bank's commodity prices, data up to 2026-09.
- Every number says its source; a share without one is labelled as an estimate.
- **A reference, not a quote.**

### Categories and their cost pages

- Aluminum die-castings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/aluminum-die-castings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/aluminum-die-castings)
- Iron castings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/iron-castings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/iron-castings)
- Steel forgings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/steel-forgings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/steel-forgings)
- Metal stampings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/metal-stampings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/metal-stampings)
- Sheet metal work: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/sheet-metal-work) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/sheet-metal-work)
- Fabricated structural metal: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/fabricated-structural-metal) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/fabricated-structural-metal)
- Steel pipe and tube: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/steel-pipe-and-tube) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/steel-pipe-and-tube)
- Aluminum extrusions: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/aluminum-extrusions) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/aluminum-extrusions)
- Copper products: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/copper-products) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/copper-products)
- Machined parts: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/machined-parts) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/machined-parts)
- Precision turned parts: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/precision-turned-parts) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/precision-turned-parts)
- Bolts, nuts and screws: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/bolts-nuts-screws) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/bolts-nuts-screws)
- Springs: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/springs) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/springs)
- Bearings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/bearings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/bearings)
- Power transmission: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/power-transmission) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/power-transmission)
- Cylinders and actuators: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/cylinders-and-actuators) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/cylinders-and-actuators)
- Fluid power valves: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/fluid-power-valves) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/fluid-power-valves)
- Industrial valves: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/industrial-valves) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/industrial-valves)
- Pumps: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/pumps) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/pumps)
- Motors and generators: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/motors-and-generators) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/motors-and-generators)
- Wire and cable: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/wire-and-cable) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/wire-and-cable)
- Relays and controls: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/relays-and-controls) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/relays-and-controls)
- Bare circuit boards: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/bare-circuit-boards) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/bare-circuit-boards)
- Circuit board assembly: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/circuit-board-assembly) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/circuit-board-assembly)
- Plastic parts: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/plastic-parts) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/plastic-parts)
- Rubber parts: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/rubber-parts) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/rubber-parts)
- Paints and coatings: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/paints-and-coatings) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/paints-and-coatings)
- Corrugated boxes: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/corrugated-boxes) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/corrugated-boxes)
- Wood pallets: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/wood-pallets) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/wood-pallets)
- Truckload freight: [US](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/us/truckload-freight) · [EU](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/costs/eu/truckload-freight)

## How it works

1. Match the item to a category.
2. Take the category's cost structure: materials, labour, energy and the rest.
3. Measure each driver's index move since the old price.
4. Compare what that justifies with what's asked.

## The rules

- Nothing to sign up for.
- No personal data stored.
- Answers kept 90 days, so receipts open.
- Limits only against abuse.
- Text from price letters is treated as data, never as instructions.

[Reference: every tool, its inputs and an example answer](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs).

---

Tacto Cost Reference by Tacto (https://tacto.ai) · [Privacy](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/privacy) · [Terms](https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/terms) · hello@tacto.ai