just as something of a useful aside: the difference between real costs of operations and the price you pay for these operations, and argue that in the long run

just as something of a useful aside: the difference between real costs of operations and the price you pay for these operations, and argue that in the long run, costs are more stable and more important than prices just want to mention the proper business vocabulary (standardized over accounting, finance, marketing) if you want to be understood across your enterprise. costs are monies you spend for necessities, they entail quantities purchased wrt prices and they reduce your profitability. Prices are without regard to quantity, and refer to market competitveness, especially "what price should I sell my product at, as I have a choice about that, but also competitive prices in the market" or as a shorthand, costs have to do with your spending, prices with your selling.