json_block=$(curl -s "$url")
# check if JSON returned and can be parsed
-if jq <<< "$json_block" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+if jq . <<< "$json_block" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
cost=$(jq .cost <<< "$json_block")
resource=$(jq .resource <<< "$json_block" | tr -d '"')
else