This reminds us that today’s technology does not allow an accelerated transition to low-carbon energy sources; that the investments required are enormous; that the demand for energy cannot be easily reduced without radical changes in consumption habits and lifestyles which the populations do not seem willing to accept, especially in advanced countries.
The year-to-year declines in corporate service prices are narrowing steadily on the whole, partly owing to the improvement in supply and demand conditions, particularly for real estate rents and information services, although leasing charges continue to decline. Consumer prices (nationwide, excluding perishables) overall are marginally above the previous year’s level mainly because the year-toyear declines in goods prices have narrowed.