The trend was echoed among corporations, whose giving jumped 18.5 percent, adjusted for inflation, to $13.77 billion.

The local unemployment rate in January was 4.8 percent, compared with 6.3 nationally, not seasonally adjusted.

He points out that fares have declined an average 33 percent, adjusted for inflation, since 1976.

"We have seen a growth rate of 4 to 5 percent adjusted for weather, and that's extraordinary," he said.

Between 1986 and 1993, when the cable industry was totally deregulated, average rates rose 4.3 percent, adjusted for inflation.

Gross domestic product dropped 0.2 percent, adjusted for inflation, after being unchanged in March.

In the last decade, average tuition at both public and private four-year colleges grew nearly 38 percent, adjusted for inflation.

Those costs are up 23 percent, adjusted for inflation.

The gross domestic product went up 35 percent, also adjusted for inflation, in that period.

Its economy grew by 22 percent, adjusted for inflation, from 1993 to 1998.