The line graph illustrates the average monthly change in prices of copper, nickel, and zinc throughout the year 2014, expressed as a percentage change compared to the previous month.
Overall, the prices of copper experienced a consistent increase from January to July, followed by fluctuations and a decrease towards the end of the year. Nickel depicted a sharp increase from April to May, followed by fluctuations with a general downward trend. Zinc, on the other hand, exhibited moderate increases and decreases throughout the year with no clear overall trend.
Copper started the year with a negative percentage change of approximately -3.5% in January, which gradually increased to a peak of approximately 5% in July. Thereafter, the prices fluctuated and witnessed a slight decrease, ending at approximately 0% in December. This indicates a significant upsurge in the first half of the year, followed by a period of instability and a subsequent decline in the latter half.
In contrast, nickel experienced a similar negative percentage change of approximately -2% at the beginning of the year, but it quickly surged to a peak of approximately 6.5% in May before undergoing fluctuations with a general downward trend. The year ended with a percentage change of approximately -1.5% in December. This trend signifies an abrupt spike in the middle of the year, followed by a sustained period of variability and eventual decrease towards the end of 2014.