I noticed that decades ago working with sheet metal. Stainless, aluminum, cold rolled steel, copper etc etc. I believe important commodities are “played with” to keep prices as low as possible, for the “greater good” like electric Utilities. Also public service etc. bus, train fares cheap and create expensive jobs too.
When Uranium was “free and natural” it was going doing great. Producers, investors etc. When I heard news, it was going on commodity markets??? I predicted prices would fall, and they DID!!! By a lot. Its ok for produces to barely make it, and ok for investors to lose or win a little are the game goes on.
Everything is very unnatural. But even so, over time, re natural inflation and trends, ($1800 gold anyway) they NEED to keep all producers in business somnewhere. Even if they have to add a tariff on Steel and Lumber, or move the dollar up or down.