But there are two important things to keep in mind about this most recent hike.

With its most recent hike in premiums, Prudential's A.A.R.P. program is no longer the cheapest in many areas.

Neither, for that matter, will fiscal changes - such as to recent hike in VAT by 2.5 percent nor asking banks to put a ceiling on bonuses.

A new gas tax would be relatively small compared with the oil companies' recent hikes.

"It's not a chore," said Renee Edelman, who joined her son Terry and his classmates on a recent hike.

Despite recent hikes in the minimum wage, for example, that wage buys less after inflation than it did in the 1970's.

One student told of a recent hike in Yosemite National Park.

That could pump about $3 billion into the banks, enough to offset recent hikes in premiums they must pay on insured deposits.

Indeed, following the recent hike in the discount rate, the dollar has firmed and the bond market has stabilized.

The recent hike in petrol prices has resulted in more people riding their bicycles or taking the bus to work.