31.   And something else is increasing federal costs from hurricanes both here and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

32.   And they argue that consumers would rather save money than spend it on preventive care, which could eventually increase health care costs.

33.   And the trustees recently approved a new masters degree in creative writing at Hunter College, although they sought repeated assurances that it would not increase costs.

34.   And that, in turn, may prompt credit rating companies to downgrade Japanese banks further and increase their costs of raising funds in foreign capital markets.

35.   And, if your jacket boasts a designer label, that, too, can increase the cost, in terms of advertising and marketing.

36.   Another way the GOP could hit its target would be to increase out-of-pocket costs to those who stay in traditional fee-for-service Medicare.

37.   Applying the minimum wage, they said, would vastly increase the cost of running work programs and leave most states unable to enroll the required number of recipients.

38.   Another factor increasing the cost of health care is mandated seismic upgrades of hospitals statewide.

39.   At the same time, Republicans on the House Budget Committee suggested vast changes in Medicare, which would increase costs for many elderly beneficiaries.

40.   Banks have been especially hard hit because weakening Asian currencies against the U.S. dollar increased the cost of debt for companies with foreign loans.