Economic Signals from Europe: Falling Energy, Rising Copper, Data Center Demand — Simon Constable — Constable reports from southern France that global economic indicators remain mixed: European energy prices have declined due to weak industrial demand signaling economic sluggishness, while copper prices surge driven by "green transition" infrastructure development and energy-intensive AI data center construction. Constable documents that copper demand is projected to increase sixfold by 2050, creating critical supply gaps and incentivizing dangerous copper wire theft from derelict properties, while China controls limited domestic production but maintains substantial contract claims on South American reserves rendering supply chains geopolitically vulnerable.
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