U.S. rates went up, the dollar was sliding and the stock market fell apart.

"There was speculation about U.S. rates moving down and other rates moving up."

In fact, the U.S. federal rate is nearly 10 percent higher than the average of America's global competitors.

Mexican women work for approximately one-sixth of the U.S. hourly rate.

"They have a long ways to go before coming anything close to U.S. rates."

The U.S. rate rose to a peak of 12.8% in 2006.

The dollar rose as the outlook for firm U.S. rates brightened.

And projections of the average U.S. electric rate actually show a slight decline by the year 2000.

International callback services allow you to make international calls from other countries at U.S. rates, and they can save you money.

"Their share prices will start to reflect the benefit as people become more confident in a U.S. rate cut early next year."