The prime rate hit 21.5 in December 1980, the highest in history.

The jobless rate has hit 22.8pc with 5.4m people out of work.

Meanwhile, the national Caesarean rate has also hit a record: 29 percent in 2004.

The bottom is when the rate of decline hits zero!

The rate of withdrawal grew in the late 1990's and hit its highest level last year.

Overnight rates hit 40 percent before the Government's action.

Her rates can hit $70 a day to care for two dogs.

That is the highest level since 1981, a recession year, when the rate hit 3.58 percent.

From 1970, however, the average rate hit about 6%, topping out at 13.3% by 1979.

Stanford's rate had hit 78 percent by the time Federal auditors began investigating the university last year.