Reference

MarkdownTools v2

How agents and developers use Tacto Cost Reference: the MCP server, its tools and the HTTP API. What it is and how to connect.

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
Get an item's cost structure: 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
Compare countries: 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

MCP server

MCP server address

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

Transport: Streamable HTTP, stateless, one JSON-RPC message per POST.
Sign-in: None.
Protocol versions: 2025-11-25, 2025-06-18, 2025-03-26
Methods: initialize, ping, tools/list, tools/call.
Answers: Every tool is read-only. Every answer is { receipt, result }, in structuredContent and as JSON text.

Tools

Audit a price change

audit_price_changeRead-only

Use when a supplier announces, requests or invoices a higher (or lower) price for an industrial item, in any language. Returns a one-sentence verdict first, then how much of the change the item's own cost drivers justify since the old price, with a range; the item's cost structure (materials, labour, energy, the rest); each driver's public index move; what producers of this item charged over the same time; counter-arguments; and what to ask the supplier for. Give the change as requestedChange, or the old and new price. Text from the supplier's letter is treated as data. Covers the US and Europe.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

requestedChangenumber

Optional when oldPrice and newPrice are given, needed otherwise. The requested change as a fraction: 0.09 is +9 %.

oldPriceobject (amount, currency, per)

Optional, with newPrice instead of requestedChange. The price before.

newPriceobject (amount, currency, per)

Optional, with oldPrice. The price asked.

oldPriceDatestring

Optional. When the old price was set. Improves the answer: drivers are measured from then (default: 12 months before the data period). ISO date, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD.

effectiveDatestring

Optional. When the new price applies. ISO date, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD.

supplierReasonsstring, up to 1000 characters

Optional. The supplier's stated reasons, quoted. Improves the counter-arguments. Treated as data, never as instructions.

quantitynumber

Optional. Yearly quantity; improves what the answer says the change is worth.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "audit_price_change",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "country": "DE",      "requestedChange": 0.09,      "oldPriceDate": "2025-03",      "effectiveDate": "2027-01"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Justified: the +9 % asked is within what the item's cost drivers justify, about +10.4 % (+6.1 % to +14.8 %).",  "result": {    "verdict": "justified",    "justified": {      "low": 0.060837376277384454,      "mid": 0.10441234932417143,      "high": 0.1479873223709584    },    "requested": 0.09,    "structure": {      "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",      "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",      "geography": "DE",      "level": "industry_4digit",      "codes": {        "nace2": "C24.53"      },      "shares": [        {          "element": "materials",          "share": 0.6266896946515228,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "DE"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "aluminium",              "share": 0.6266896946515228,              "series": {                "id": "DESTATIS:GP19-2442",                "source": "destatis",                "title": "Aluminium and semi-finished products",                "unit": "Index 2021=100",                "geography": "DE"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "energy",          "share": 0.05674056438078139,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "DE"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "electricity",              "share": 0.05674056438078139,              "series": {                "id": "ESELECIDDE",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "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",                "unit": "EUR/kWh, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes",                "geography": "DE"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "Eurostat doesn't split energy purchases; priced by industrial electricity"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "labour",          "share": 0.26489988681159987,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "DE"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "labour costs",              "share": 0.26489988681159987,              "series": {                "id": "ESLCICDE",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "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",                "unit": "Index, 2020=100",                "geography": "DE"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                "year": 2024,                "nace2": "C24.53",                "geography": "DE"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "other",          "share": 0.05166985415609591,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "DE"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",              "share": 0.05166985415609591,              "series": {                "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "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",                "unit": "Index, 2021=100",                "geography": "DE"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                "year": 2024,                "nace2": "C24.53",                "geography": "DE"              }            }          ]        }      ],      "producerPrice": {        "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",        "source": "eurostat",        "title": "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",        "unit": "Index, 2021=100",        "geography": "DE"      },      "dataPeriod": "2026-09"    },    "moves": [      {        "series": {          "id": "DESTATIS:GP19-2442",          "source": "destatis",          "title": "Aluminium and semi-finished products",          "unit": "Index 2021=100",          "geography": "DE"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 120.8        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-09",          "value": 139.8        },        "change": 0.15728476821192072      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESELECIDDE",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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",          "unit": "EUR/kWh, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes",          "geography": "DE"        },        "from": {          "period": "2024-12",          "value": 0.20465        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-06",          "value": 0.1832        },        "change": -0.1048130955289519      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESLCICDE",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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",          "unit": "Index, 2020=100",          "geography": "DE"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 114.07499999999999        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-06",          "value": 118        },        "change": 0.0344071882533421      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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",          "unit": "Index, 2021=100",          "geography": "DE"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 119.7        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-09",          "value": 125.9        },        "change": 0.05179615705931506      }    ],    "producerCheck": {      "series": {        "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",        "source": "eurostat",        "title": "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",        "unit": "Index, 2021=100",        "geography": "DE"      },      "from": {        "period": "2025-03",        "value": 119.7      },      "to": {        "period": "2026-09",        "value": 125.9      },      "change": 0.05179615705931506    },    "counterArguments": [      "Electricity is down 10.5 % since 2024-12 and takes about 0.6 points off.",      "Producers of this in DE raised their prices by +5.2 % since 2025-03, less than the +9 % asked."    ],    "askSupplier": [      "The index and base month they price from",      "Aluminium's share of the price"    ],    "method": "Each cost share of the item in its market times the move of the index that drives it, from the old price's month to the newest value, summed. The range comes from how sure the shares are: shares from Census or Eurostat statistics count ±15 %, estimates ±40 %. Quarterly and half-yearly series aren't seasonally adjusted, so they compare the average of the year up to each month. The producer price index of the industry shows what producers of this charged over the same months. A reference, not a quote. Newest data: 2026-09."  },  "markdown": "Justified: the +9 % asked is within what the item's cost drivers justify, about +10.4 % (+6.1 % to +14.8 %).\n\n| Element | Share | Basis |\n| -- | -- | -- |\n| materials | 63 % | eurostat_sbs 2024 |\n| energy | 6 % | eurostat_sbs 2024 |\n| labour | 26 % | eurostat_sbs 2024 |\n| other | 5 % | eurostat_sbs 2024 |\n\n| Series | From | To | Change |\n| -- | -- | -- | -- |\n| Aluminium and semi-finished products (DESTATIS:GP19-2442) | 120.8 (2025-03) | 139.8 (2026-09) | +15.7 % |\n| 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 (ESELECIDDE) | 0.20465 (2024-12) | 0.1832 (2026-06) | −10.5 % |\n| 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 (ESLCICDE) | 114.075 (2025-03) | 118 (2026-06) | +3.4 % |\n| 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 (ESPPIC2453DE) | 119.7 (2025-03) | 125.9 (2026-09) | +5.2 % |\n\nCounter-arguments:\n- Electricity is down 10.5 % since 2024-12 and takes about 0.6 points off.\n- Producers of this in DE raised their prices by +5.2 % since 2025-03, less than the +9 % asked.\n\nMethod: Each cost share of the item in its market times the move of the index that drives it, from the old price's month to the newest value, summed. The range comes from how sure the shares are: shares from Census or Eurostat statistics count ±15 %, estimates ±40 %. Quarterly and half-yearly series aren't seasonally adjusted, so they compare the average of the year up to each month. The producer price index of the industry shows what producers of this charged over the same months. A reference, not a quote. Newest data: 2026-09.\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example\n\nAsk the supplier for:\n- The index and base month they price from\n- Aluminium's share of the price",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": [    "The index and base month they price from",    "Aluminium's share of the price"  ]}

Get an item's cost structure

get_cost_structureRead-only

Use when you need to know what an industrial item's price is made of, before negotiating, budgeting or judging a quote. Returns a one-sentence summary first, then the shares of materials, labour, energy and the rest for the item's industry, each with its basis (US Census or Eurostat, the year, or labelled as an estimate), the public index behind every driver and the item's producer price index. Covers the US and Europe.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "get_cost_structure",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "market": "US"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).",  "result": {    "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",    "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",    "geography": "US",    "level": "industry_6digit",    "codes": {      "naics": "331523"    },    "shares": [      {        "element": "materials",        "share": 0.47084010740620313,        "basis": {          "kind": "census",          "survey": "Economic Census",          "year": 2022,          "naics": "331523"        },        "drivers": [          {            "label": "aluminium",            "share": 0.47084010740620313,            "series": {              "id": "BLS:WPU102501",              "source": "bls",              "title": "Aluminum mill shapes",              "unit": "Index 1982=100",              "geography": "US"            },            "basis": {              "kind": "estimate",              "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"            }          }        ]      },      {        "element": "energy",        "share": 0.03532919371925445,        "basis": {          "kind": "census",          "survey": "Economic Census",          "year": 2022,          "naics": "331523"        },        "drivers": [          {            "label": "electricity",            "share": 0.021532767283063595,            "series": {              "id": "WPU0543",              "source": "bls",              "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial electric power, not seasonally adjusted",              "unit": "Index 1982=100",              "geography": "US"            },            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            }          },          {            "label": "natural gas and fuels",            "share": 0.013796426436190857,            "series": {              "id": "WPU0553",              "source": "bls",              "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial natural gas, not seasonally adjusted",              "unit": "Index Dec 1990=100",              "geography": "US"            },            "basis": {              "kind": "estimate",              "reason": "Census fuels priced by industrial natural gas"            }          }        ]      },      {        "element": "labour",        "share": 0.28981974847648917,        "basis": {          "kind": "census",          "survey": "Economic Census",          "year": 2022,          "naics": "331523"        },        "drivers": [          {            "label": "wages",            "share": 0.28981974847648917,            "series": {              "id": "CEU3000000003",              "source": "bls",              "title": "Average hourly earnings of all employees, manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted",              "unit": "Dollars per hour",              "geography": "US"            },            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            }          }        ]      },      {        "element": "other",        "share": 0.20401095039805325,        "basis": {          "kind": "census",          "survey": "Economic Census",          "year": 2022,          "naics": "331523"        },        "drivers": [          {            "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",            "share": 0.20401095039805325,            "series": {              "id": "PCU331523331523",              "source": "bls",              "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries, not seasonally adjusted",              "unit": "Index Dec 2011=100",              "geography": "US"            },            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            }          }        ]      }    ],    "producerPrice": {      "id": "PCU3315233315231",      "source": "bls",      "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries-Aluminum die-castings, not seasonally adjusted",      "unit": "Index Jun 1983=100",      "geography": "US"    },    "dataPeriod": "2026-09"  },  "markdown": "Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).\n\n| Element | Share | Basis |\n| -- | -- | -- |\n| materials | 47 % | census 2022 |\n| energy | 4 % | census 2022 |\n| labour | 29 % | census 2022 |\n| other | 20 % | census 2022 |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Track an item's cost drivers

track_cost_driversRead-only

Use when you want to know how an industrial item's costs moved since a date, e.g. since the last price was agreed. Returns a one-sentence summary first, then each cost driver's public index move since that month, weighted by its share of the item's cost. Covers the US and Europe.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

sincestringRequired

The start of the period. ISO date, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "track_cost_drivers",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "market": "EU",      "since": "2025-03"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Aluminum die-castings in EU27: the cost drivers moved the cost by about +9.8 % since 2025-03; biggest: aluminium +12.8 %.",  "result": {    "structure": {      "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",      "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",      "geography": "EU27",      "level": "industry_4digit",      "codes": {        "nace2": "C24.53"      },      "shares": [        {          "element": "materials",          "share": 0.6653179190751445,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "EU27"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "aluminium",              "share": 0.6653179190751445,              "series": {                "id": "ESPPIC2442EU27",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Aluminium production",                "unit": "Index, 2021=100",                "geography": "EU27"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "energy",          "share": 0.04566473988439306,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "EU27"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "electricity",              "share": 0.04566473988439306,              "series": {                "id": "ESELECIDEU27",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "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 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)",                "unit": "EUR/kWh, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes",                "geography": "EU27"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "Eurostat doesn't split energy purchases; priced by industrial electricity"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "labour",          "share": 0.22947976878612716,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "EU27"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "labour costs",              "share": 0.22947976878612716,              "series": {                "id": "ESLCICEU27",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "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) · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacturing",                "unit": "Index, 2020=100",                "geography": "EU27"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                "year": 2024,                "nace2": "C24.53",                "geography": "EU27"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "other",          "share": 0.05953757225433526,          "basis": {            "kind": "eurostat_sbs",            "year": 2024,            "nace2": "C24.53",            "geography": "EU27"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",              "share": 0.05953757225433526,              "series": {                "id": "ESPPIC2453EU27",                "source": "eurostat",                "title": "Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Casting of light metals",                "unit": "Index, 2021=100",                "geography": "EU27"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                "year": 2024,                "nace2": "C24.53",                "geography": "EU27"              }            }          ]        }      ],      "producerPrice": {        "id": "ESPPIC2453EU27",        "source": "eurostat",        "title": "Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Casting of light metals",        "unit": "Index, 2021=100",        "geography": "EU27"      },      "dataPeriod": "2026-09"    },    "moves": [      {        "series": {          "id": "ESPPIC2442EU27",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Aluminium production",          "unit": "Index, 2021=100",          "geography": "EU27"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 125.1        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-09",          "value": 141.1        },        "change": 0.12789768185451633      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESELECIDEU27",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)",          "unit": "EUR/kWh, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes",          "geography": "EU27"        },        "from": {          "period": "2024-12",          "value": 0.1671        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-06",          "value": 0.15775        },        "change": -0.055954518252543384      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESLCICEU27",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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) · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacturing",          "unit": "Index, 2020=100",          "geography": "EU27"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 118.125        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-06",          "value": 123.375        },        "change": 0.04444444444444451      },      {        "series": {          "id": "ESPPIC2453EU27",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Casting of light metals",          "unit": "Index, 2021=100",          "geography": "EU27"        },        "from": {          "period": "2025-03",          "value": 119.6        },        "to": {          "period": "2026-09",          "value": 129.5        },        "change": 0.08277591973244158      }    ]  },  "markdown": "Aluminum die-castings in EU27: the cost drivers moved the cost by about +9.8 % since 2025-03; biggest: aluminium +12.8 %.\n\n| Series | From | To | Change |\n| -- | -- | -- | -- |\n| Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Aluminium production (ESPPIC2442EU27) | 125.1 (2025-03) | 141.1 (2026-09) | +12.8 % |\n| 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 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) (ESELECIDEU27) | 0.1671 (2024-12) | 0.15775 (2026-06) | −5.6 % |\n| 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) · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Manufacturing (ESLCICEU27) | 118.125 (2025-03) | 123.375 (2026-06) | +4.4 % |\n| Producer prices in industry, total - monthly data · Producer prices · Unadjusted data (i.e. neither seasonally adjusted nor calendar adjusted data) · Index, 2021=100 · European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) · Casting of light metals (ESPPIC2453EU27) | 119.6 (2025-03) | 129.5 (2026-09) | +8.3 % |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Compare countries

compare_countriesRead-only

Use when you are comparing where an industrial item is made. Returns the item's cost structure, labour and price trend side by side for the countries asked. Covers the US, EU27, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Italy (default: US, EU27, DE); any other country answers 'not covered yet' with the closest covered market.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

countriesarray

Optional. ISO country codes (or EU27) to compare. Default: US, EU27, DE.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "compare_countries",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "countries": [        "US",        "DE"      ]    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Aluminum die-castings: US materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 %; DE materials 63 %, energy 6 %, labour 26 %, other 5 %.",  "result": {    "compared": [      {        "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",        "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",        "geography": "US",        "level": "industry_6digit",        "codes": {          "naics": "331523"        },        "shares": [          {            "element": "materials",            "share": 0.47084010740620313,            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "aluminium",                "share": 0.47084010740620313,                "series": {                  "id": "BLS:WPU102501",                  "source": "bls",                  "title": "Aluminum mill shapes",                  "unit": "Index 1982=100",                  "geography": "US"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "estimate",                  "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "energy",            "share": 0.03532919371925445,            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "electricity",                "share": 0.021532767283063595,                "series": {                  "id": "WPU0543",                  "source": "bls",                  "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial electric power, not seasonally adjusted",                  "unit": "Index 1982=100",                  "geography": "US"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "census",                  "survey": "Economic Census",                  "year": 2022,                  "naics": "331523"                }              },              {                "label": "natural gas and fuels",                "share": 0.013796426436190857,                "series": {                  "id": "WPU0553",                  "source": "bls",                  "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial natural gas, not seasonally adjusted",                  "unit": "Index Dec 1990=100",                  "geography": "US"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "estimate",                  "reason": "Census fuels priced by industrial natural gas"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "labour",            "share": 0.28981974847648917,            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "wages",                "share": 0.28981974847648917,                "series": {                  "id": "CEU3000000003",                  "source": "bls",                  "title": "Average hourly earnings of all employees, manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted",                  "unit": "Dollars per hour",                  "geography": "US"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "census",                  "survey": "Economic Census",                  "year": 2022,                  "naics": "331523"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "other",            "share": 0.20401095039805325,            "basis": {              "kind": "census",              "survey": "Economic Census",              "year": 2022,              "naics": "331523"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",                "share": 0.20401095039805325,                "series": {                  "id": "PCU331523331523",                  "source": "bls",                  "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries, not seasonally adjusted",                  "unit": "Index Dec 2011=100",                  "geography": "US"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "census",                  "survey": "Economic Census",                  "year": 2022,                  "naics": "331523"                }              }            ]          }        ],        "producerPrice": {          "id": "PCU3315233315231",          "source": "bls",          "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries-Aluminum die-castings, not seasonally adjusted",          "unit": "Index Jun 1983=100",          "geography": "US"        },        "dataPeriod": "2026-09"      },      {        "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",        "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",        "geography": "DE",        "level": "industry_4digit",        "codes": {          "nace2": "C24.53"        },        "shares": [          {            "element": "materials",            "share": 0.6266896946515228,            "basis": {              "kind": "eurostat_sbs",              "year": 2024,              "nace2": "C24.53",              "geography": "DE"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "aluminium",                "share": 0.6266896946515228,                "series": {                  "id": "DESTATIS:GP19-2442",                  "source": "destatis",                  "title": "Aluminium and semi-finished products",                  "unit": "Index 2021=100",                  "geography": "DE"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "estimate",                  "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "energy",            "share": 0.05674056438078139,            "basis": {              "kind": "eurostat_sbs",              "year": 2024,              "nace2": "C24.53",              "geography": "DE"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "electricity",                "share": 0.05674056438078139,                "series": {                  "id": "ESELECIDDE",                  "source": "eurostat",                  "title": "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",                  "unit": "EUR/kWh, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes",                  "geography": "DE"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "estimate",                  "reason": "Eurostat doesn't split energy purchases; priced by industrial electricity"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "labour",            "share": 0.26489988681159987,            "basis": {              "kind": "eurostat_sbs",              "year": 2024,              "nace2": "C24.53",              "geography": "DE"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "labour costs",                "share": 0.26489988681159987,                "series": {                  "id": "ESLCICDE",                  "source": "eurostat",                  "title": "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",                  "unit": "Index, 2020=100",                  "geography": "DE"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                  "year": 2024,                  "nace2": "C24.53",                  "geography": "DE"                }              }            ]          },          {            "element": "other",            "share": 0.05166985415609591,            "basis": {              "kind": "eurostat_sbs",              "year": 2024,              "nace2": "C24.53",              "geography": "DE"            },            "drivers": [              {                "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",                "share": 0.05166985415609591,                "series": {                  "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",                  "source": "eurostat",                  "title": "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",                  "unit": "Index, 2021=100",                  "geography": "DE"                },                "basis": {                  "kind": "eurostat_sbs",                  "year": 2024,                  "nace2": "C24.53",                  "geography": "DE"                }              }            ]          }        ],        "producerPrice": {          "id": "ESPPIC2453DE",          "source": "eurostat",          "title": "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",          "unit": "Index, 2021=100",          "geography": "DE"        },        "dataPeriod": "2026-09"      }    ]  },  "markdown": "Aluminum die-castings: US materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 %; DE materials 63 %, energy 6 %, labour 26 %, other 5 %.\n\n| Geography | Materials | Labour | Energy | Other | Data |\n| -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |\n| US | 47 % | 29 % | 4 % | 20 % | 2026-09 |\n| DE | 63 % | 26 % | 6 % | 5 % | 2026-09 |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Estimate a part's cost

estimate_part_costSoon

Use when you want a should-cost for one specific part. Returns what is known for the part's category today (its cost structure with sources) and says plainly that a part-level should-cost isn't available yet, with a link to be told when it is.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

descriptionstring, up to 1000 characters

Optional. The part's material, size, weight and process; kept so the part-level estimate can be built for it.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "estimate_part_cost",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "description": "AlSi9Cu3 housing, 1.2 kg, high-pressure die-cast, machined"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "A part-level should-cost isn't available yet. No country or market given, so this answer is for the US; give market EU for Europe. Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).",  "result": {    "categoryToday": {      "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",      "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",      "geography": "US",      "level": "industry_6digit",      "codes": {        "naics": "331523"      },      "shares": [        {          "element": "materials",          "share": 0.47084010740620313,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "aluminium",              "share": 0.47084010740620313,              "series": {                "id": "BLS:WPU102501",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Aluminum mill shapes",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "energy",          "share": 0.03532919371925445,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "electricity",              "share": 0.021532767283063595,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0543",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial electric power, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            },            {              "label": "natural gas and fuels",              "share": 0.013796426436190857,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0553",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial natural gas, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 1990=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "Census fuels priced by industrial natural gas"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "labour",          "share": 0.28981974847648917,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "wages",              "share": 0.28981974847648917,              "series": {                "id": "CEU3000000003",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Average hourly earnings of all employees, manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Dollars per hour",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "other",          "share": 0.20401095039805325,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",              "share": 0.20401095039805325,              "series": {                "id": "PCU331523331523",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 2011=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        }      ],      "producerPrice": {        "id": "PCU3315233315231",        "source": "bls",        "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries-Aluminum die-castings, not seasonally adjusted",        "unit": "Index Jun 1983=100",        "geography": "US"      },      "dataPeriod": "2026-09"    },    "notAvailableYet": "A part-level should-cost isn't available yet.",    "tellMeWhen": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs#tell-me-when"  },  "markdown": "A part-level should-cost isn't available yet. No country or market given, so this answer is for the US; give market EU for Europe. Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).\n\n| Element | Share | Basis |\n| -- | -- | -- |\n| materials | 47 % | census 2022 |\n| energy | 4 % | census 2022 |\n| labour | 29 % | census 2022 |\n| other | 20 % | census 2022 |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Audit a quote

audit_quoteSoon

Use when you want to know whether an absolute quoted price is fair. Returns the category's producer price trend and cost structure today, and says plainly that an absolute price check isn't available yet, with a link to be told when it is.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

priceobject (amount, currency, per)

Optional. The quoted price; kept for the absolute check.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "audit_quote",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "price": {        "amount": 4.2,        "currency": "EUR"      }    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "An absolute price check isn't available yet. Aluminum die-castings in US: producer prices have no 12-month move yet.",  "result": {    "categoryToday": {      "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",      "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",      "geography": "US",      "level": "industry_6digit",      "codes": {        "naics": "331523"      },      "shares": [        {          "element": "materials",          "share": 0.47084010740620313,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "aluminium",              "share": 0.47084010740620313,              "series": {                "id": "BLS:WPU102501",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Aluminum mill shapes",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "energy",          "share": 0.03532919371925445,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "electricity",              "share": 0.021532767283063595,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0543",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial electric power, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            },            {              "label": "natural gas and fuels",              "share": 0.013796426436190857,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0553",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial natural gas, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 1990=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "Census fuels priced by industrial natural gas"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "labour",          "share": 0.28981974847648917,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "wages",              "share": 0.28981974847648917,              "series": {                "id": "CEU3000000003",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Average hourly earnings of all employees, manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Dollars per hour",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "other",          "share": 0.20401095039805325,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",              "share": 0.20401095039805325,              "series": {                "id": "PCU331523331523",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 2011=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        }      ],      "producerPrice": {        "id": "PCU3315233315231",        "source": "bls",        "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries-Aluminum die-castings, not seasonally adjusted",        "unit": "Index Jun 1983=100",        "geography": "US"      },      "dataPeriod": "2026-09"    },    "producerPriceLast12Months": null,    "notAvailableYet": "An absolute price check isn't available yet.",    "tellMeWhen": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/docs#tell-me-when"  },  "markdown": "An absolute price check isn't available yet. Aluminum die-castings in US: producer prices have no 12-month move yet.\n\n| Element | Share | Basis |\n| -- | -- | -- |\n| materials | 47 % | census 2022 |\n| energy | 4 % | census 2022 |\n| labour | 29 % | census 2022 |\n| other | 20 % | census 2022 |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Find suppliers

find_suppliersSoon

Use when you are looking for producers of an industrial item in a country or region. Says what is known today and that named suppliers aren't available yet, with a link to be told when they are.

Inputs

itemstring, up to 200 charactersRequired

What is bought, in plain words: the part or material and its process.

countrystring

Optional. Where it is made, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. Covered: US, DE, AT, NL, IT (and EU27 via market). Improves the answer: country data instead of the market's.

marketUS or EU

Optional. US or EU (EU27), when no country is given. Without either, the US is used and the answer says so.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "find_suppliers",    "arguments": {      "item": "aluminium die-cast housing",      "country": "MX"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Not covered yet: MX. The reference covers the US and Europe (EU27, DE, AT, NL, IT); closest covered market: US. The question is kept, so countries agents ask for come first.",  "result": {    "notCoveredYet": true,    "asked": [      "MX"    ],    "closestMarkets": [      "US"    ],    "covered": [      "US",      "EU27",      "DE",      "AT",      "NL",      "IT"    ]  },  "markdown": "Not covered yet: MX. The reference covers the US and Europe (EU27, DE, AT, NL, IT); closest covered market: US. The question is kept, so countries agents ask for come first.\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

Ask a cost question

ask_cost_questionRead-only

Use for any other question about what an industrial item costs or why its price moves, in any language, when no other tool fits. Routes to the right tool when it can and says plainly when a question isn't covered yet.

Inputs

questionstring, up to 1000 charactersRequired

The question, in any language.

Example call (tools/call)

{  "jsonrpc": "2.0",  "id": 1,  "method": "tools/call",  "params": {    "name": "ask_cost_question",    "arguments": {      "question": "Why did die-casting prices rise?"    }  }}

Example answer

{  "summary": "Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).",  "result": {    "routedTo": "get_cost_structure",    "answer": {      "categoryKey": "aluminum-die-castings",      "categoryName": "Aluminum die-castings",      "geography": "US",      "level": "industry_6digit",      "codes": {        "naics": "331523"      },      "shares": [        {          "element": "materials",          "share": 0.47084010740620313,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "aluminium",              "share": 0.47084010740620313,              "series": {                "id": "BLS:WPU102501",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Aluminum mill shapes",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "estimate: die-castings are almost all aluminium alloy by material cost (category map v1, 2026-10-31)"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "energy",          "share": 0.03532919371925445,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "electricity",              "share": 0.021532767283063595,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0543",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial electric power, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index 1982=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            },            {              "label": "natural gas and fuels",              "share": 0.013796426436190857,              "series": {                "id": "WPU0553",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI Commodity data for Fuels and related products and power-Industrial natural gas, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 1990=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "estimate",                "reason": "Census fuels priced by industrial natural gas"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "labour",          "share": 0.28981974847648917,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "wages",              "share": 0.28981974847648917,              "series": {                "id": "CEU3000000003",                "source": "bls",                "title": "Average hourly earnings of all employees, manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Dollars per hour",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        },        {          "element": "other",          "share": 0.20401095039805325,          "basis": {            "kind": "census",            "survey": "Economic Census",            "year": 2022,            "naics": "331523"          },          "drivers": [            {              "label": "producer prices (overhead and margin)",              "share": 0.20401095039805325,              "series": {                "id": "PCU331523331523",                "source": "bls",                "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries, not seasonally adjusted",                "unit": "Index Dec 2011=100",                "geography": "US"              },              "basis": {                "kind": "census",                "survey": "Economic Census",                "year": 2022,                "naics": "331523"              }            }          ]        }      ],      "producerPrice": {        "id": "PCU3315233315231",        "source": "bls",        "title": "PPI industry data for Nonferrous metal die-casting foundries-Aluminum die-castings, not seasonally adjusted",        "unit": "Index Jun 1983=100",        "geography": "US"      },      "dataPeriod": "2026-09"    }  },  "markdown": "Aluminum die-castings in US: materials 47 %, energy 4 %, labour 29 %, other 20 % (data 2026-09).\n\n| Element | Share | Basis |\n| -- | -- | -- |\n| materials | 47 % | census 2022 |\n| energy | 4 % | census 2022 |\n| labour | 29 % | census 2022 |\n| other | 20 % | census 2022 |\n\nReceipt with sources: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "receipt": "https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/audit/example",  "askSupplier": []}

HTTP API

Call a tool: POST https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/<tool> with the tool's arguments as the JSON body; the answer is the same { receipt, result }.
OpenAPI 3.1: https://intelligence.tacto.ai/agents/api/openapi.json

Errors and limits

Arguments a tool can't use: MCP answers with isError: true and a sentence saying why; the API with 400 and { error }.
An unknown tool: 404 from the API; JSON-RPC error -32601 for an unknown method.
Requests over 64 KB: 413.
More than one JSON-RPC message per request: -32600.
When the reference can't answer: JSON-RPC -32603, or 500 from the API. Try again later.
A question it doesn't cover: A plain "can't tell" or "not covered yet" with the closest categories, never a guess.
Limits: Only against abuse.

Versions

Tool descriptions are versioned; today's are v2. A changed description gets a new version, and the OpenAPI file carries it as info.version.

Tell me when

Part-level should-costs, absolute quote checks and named suppliers aren't available yet. Ask for them through estimate_part_cost, audit_quote and find_suppliers: every such question is counted, and the most asked come first. Or write to hello@tacto.ai.