Mr. Engen said it was the lowest rate ever recorded.

Moreover, the 6.3-million-unit rate recorded for the month represented a solid improvement from the 5.9 million vehicles sold during April.

It's the lowest rate recorded in the seven decades that researchers have been tracking teen births.

That is the lowest level since the 1.05 million annual rate recorded in August 1982.

That was better than the 15.7 million rate recorded in May but below the 17.4 million rate in April.

"Japan's population is aging probably at the fastest rate ever recorded," said Mr. Horioka.

The black poverty rate dropped "to the lowest rate ever recorded," according to a 2002 study by the National Urban League.

Data from observations suggest that hot gas is cooling in the central regions at the highest rate ever recorded.

FLU is sweeping across Britain at the highest rate recorded for 14 years, according to figures published yesterday.

The number of child victims intercepted in 2009 exceeds by 100 the already high rate recorded in the previous reporting period.