When that is done the new growth will appear to be less of a spurt and more of a gradual trend.

"Unquestionably there has been a gradual trend of disengagement and withdrawal."

There's been a gradual trend toward acceptance of alternative methods, even though five years ago, asking for a hypnobirth was almost unheard of.

The Senate bill approved today continues a gradual trend of moderation in punishing adulterers over the centuries.

There is a similar but more gradual trend in the United States.

Malaysia has experienced a gradual downward trend throughout the 1990s but stabilized around the year 2000.

Around the time of Thrawn, the gradual trend had grown to such magnitude that its effects grew noticeable.

But the strong euro has been a gradual trend.

It, like many small towns, has been hit hard by the gradual trend toward urbanization.

After having followed a gradual downward trend since spring 2000, the three-month average of annual M3 growth rates has tended to broadly stabilise over recent months.