21.   Having seen a few defenses over the years, he figures this one is on a steady rise.

22.   Her class with Clinton posed one of the few threats to her steady rise to academic prominence.

23.   Household finances have been weakened by sluggish income growth, layoffs at big companies and a steady rise in household debt.

24.   In the most lively exchange, Forrester accused his opponents of overseeing a steady rise in state spending.

25.   Japan is still a favorite, despite its already steady rise.

26.   Lower-income housing in particular has been hurt by the steady rise in water and sewer rates in recent years, largely because of higher occupancy rates.

27.   Moreover, this steady rise has occurred despite a remarkable economic boom.

28.   Natural gas tumbled to a five-week low as a steady rise in storage amounts reduces concern winter could arrive with dangerously low inventories.

29.   Precipitation studies conducted at the National Climatic Data Center indicate a steady rise in extreme daily rainfall events since the beginning of this century.

30.   Sinclair said that food pantries and shelters, the everyday indicators of poverty, have seen a steady rise in the number of people knocking at their doors.