1.   Glaus also is hitting for a higher average this year.

2.   Nationwide, home prices and new-housing starts have grown faster than their long-term averages this year.

3.   Oil companies have boosted drilling budgets because oil prices have been higher on average this year and new technology has improved the chances of finding petroleum.

4.   The theme parks have been raising prices by a couple of dollars on average each year for the last decade.

5.   The draft forecast that consumer prices would rise by only one per cent on average this year and by two percent next year.