But the rate of decline has slowed, the company said.

Higher rates, in turn, discourage investment and slow the economy.

But he said the rate of increase had steadily slowed.

The rate then slowed to between 4.4 to 6.5% from 2001 to 2007.

As it is, the rate of building has slowed to little above zero.

The rate of growth slowed, however, from the 7.0 percent recorded a year earlier.

In the first half of 1989, the rate slowed, to 342,000 major crimes.

"The rate of profit growth will slow more than expected," he said.

In fact, the rate of increase has slowed for everyone.

But even without much hard evidence, most participants continue to believe that the economy's rate of growth is slowing.