Progress is being made in reducing child mortality and female genital mutilation.
Considerable progress is being made in reducing the friction losses resulting from piston movement.
"We have a goal of reducing costs while continuing the progress made in reducing caseloads," Mr. La Vorgna said.
Gains made in reducing sectarian violence during the past two years were "still fragile, still reversible," he said Thursday.
In most other fields of technology great strides have been made in reducing cost and increasing capacity over the years.
But 30% think progress is being made in reducing corruption in their country, up from 26% last year.
The report underscored the limited progress that households had made in reducing the amounts that they owed to lenders.
While substantial progress had been made in reducing poverty and achieving many MDG targets, much work lay ahead.
Huge progress could be made in reducing poverty, it argues, if domestic tax revenues in developing countries were raised in a way that supported sustainable development.
Globally, progress is being made in reducing the unmet need for contraception, but it is slow with more progress in some countries than in others.
The dip in Lloyds' share price, whichhas been below 60p this year, means little headway has been made in reducing the taxpayers' stake below 9%.
