In 1985, the trade surplus was heading toward what seemed an astronomical level of more than $50 billion.

Ever since he first joined, the magazine's sales have increased at an astronomical level.

The problem with that solution was that the number of positions to be evaluated expands to astronomical levels very rapidly.

The policy punctured what is now called the "bubble economy" of the 1980's, a speculative period that sent asset prices to astronomical levels.

The attrition rate for Black cadets reached astronomical levels.

However, supply interruption was enough to force prices in Egypt to astronomical levels.

"We set expectations at the astronomical level, and we've taken the attitude that we're not going to talk about them for now."

But it has kept federal spending in check and brought inflation down from astronomical levels to about 4 percent a month.

During the ensuing decade, known as the bubble years, stock and real estate price reached astronomical levels.

To be sure, Wall Street's luminaries have always been compensated at astronomical levels.