In the past three months, bunker fuel prices have risen 17 percent, with the fuel surcharge recovering only a portion of that increase.

While this ... represents a very significant increase, no transportation company can ignore the serious impact of record-high fuel prices and the volatility of the current world oil market.

If fuel prices had not risen to record levels, we would have achieved it.

Prices for all kinds of heating -- natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and propane -- have all risen since last year. But thanks to a warm winter and higher inventory levels, the price of natural gas is continuing to decline. We're pleased to pass along these savings to our customers in Miami-Dade, Brevard, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.

The trend to travel rods has risen steadily since they were introduced. They now comprise about 60 percent of our sales. A travel rod is a great choice for the plug caster who might want to take a fly rod on a big trip, but doesn't want to go overboard in gearing up. You toss the tube in the the duffle and there it is ready to go when the circumstances are right.

[So-called core prices have risen in only one month since April 1998. They fell 0.1 percent in August from a year earlier, a government report showed Sept. 30. The point at which core prices reach stable gains] is getting pretty close, ... That means interest rates will eventually head toward positive territory.