Mr. Yamarone of Argus Research, a small independent firm, projects a more gradual tightening of monetary policy.

In recent decades, many of its campaigns have been directed against the gradual tightening of ties to the United States.

Since 1981 he has observed a gradual tightening in restrictions on investigative reporting.

On Tuesday, the Federal Open Market Committee sent investors scurrying with an unusually ambiguous statement hinting at continued low rates and a gradual tightening of policy next year.

By one measure, the White House got its way: last week the Fed decided against a move that had been expected - the gradual tightening of monetary policy next year.

The result of this trend, in both Britain and the US, was a gradual tightening of journalistic access to stars and the imposition of restrictions on interviews.

One spinoff of the gradual tightening of security here has been a 20 percent reduction in ordinary crimes over the past six months.

On Feb. 27, he implied that the economic recovery would be gradual and aggressive tightening would not be needed.

At first the pressure was light, a squeeze, and then a gradual tightening until the pain erupted like fire.

The E.P.A. adopted Carol Browner's old "micro-cap" idea - but abandoned its critical component, the gradual tightening of the cap.