While transport prices and university fees rise, and the government increases taxes and lowers pensions, people prefer to stay at home and support La Roja (Spanish national soccer team) and wait until it is cooler to take the streets.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

As Sir Mervyn went out of his way to point out, this is in no small part because of government policies - notably the rise in tuition fees and administered increases in transport and utility bills - which the central bank could not predict, let alone control.

BBC: Mervyn King still ne regrette rien

There are moves to reduce transport costs by, for example, cutting landing fees at Sapporo's airport.

ECONOMIST: The first of an occasional series on Japan��s economic pains

The Air Transport Users Council says growing numbers of airports are charging fees to cover development and security on top of their ticket prices.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Airport users 'are charged twice'

User fees, says Mary Peters, the secretary of transport, are a way to reduce congestion while raising revenue for other projects.

ECONOMIST: Infrastructure