"When the rates spiked back up in April, that's when things started to slow right down," Mr. Brady said.

But immediately after September 11 of that year, the rate spiked a full 2 percent and hasn't slipped much since.

That was in the early 1980's, when short-term rates spiked above 20 percent and plunged the economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

The bill reached the governor's desk at the height of summer power demand, and at a time when rates have spiked because of power shortages around the Northeast.

If the Fed decides to do nothing today, then long-term rates could spike and cause prices to fall, Mr. Guild said.

"So despite the fear of budget problems which could cause rates to spike upwards," he said, "buyers are afraid to completely jump off the train."

But if rates spiked to 10.25 percent, as they did in the late 1980's, he could end up paying almost $1,000 more a month.

In August, the rate of new openings spiked at four per week, with three new food banks being opened in that month for Nottingham alone.

Its rate of daily article creations spiked in March 2006, rapidly growing to an average of 1,000 a day in early May 2006.

Immediately after Sept. 11, the rate spiked a full 2 percent and hasn't slipped much since.