Problem is application prices havn't increased a hell of a lot over the past 25 years or so and the operating costs have what??? And so I think operators are doing things a lot tougher than years ago. Catch 22 hey.[/QUOTE]
One of the problems is that commodity prices have not increased over time with say the CPI.
Commodity price will always reflect or use as a base the cheapest countries of production. Some countries will too get rid of their produce subsidise the farmers the difference between the price it can be sold for and the cost of production...and its not just the Yanks...Europe does it for the reasons of a more social outcome, to stop a mass migration from the country to the city because the infrastructure would never handle it...look out Sydney...we are probably our own worst enemy..it p_sses me off when as a gesture to an emerging economy we assist by giving them technoledgy knowing full well in ten or so years because they have a cheaper production cost they will cause us anguist in the world market.
Its no wonder as part of the free trade ageement with the US one of the crucial parts of it was copywrite protection for 25 years.
Unless we protect our knowledge base and stop sharing so freely our technolodgy we will continue to see declining or low based commodity prices and we will continue to see lower potential for profits which in-turn effects the service industry and our personal returns.
A trend towards Global Economy doesn't support Capitalisim.