Gloucestershire Highways said the "very slow and flat peak" of the river would mean the situation with closed roads would continue for a few more days.

BBC: A flooded garden by the River Severn in Gloucester

Again, it would be better to have flat monthly charges based on peak speeds of always-on service plus packet charges for traffic actually carried.

CNN: OPINION: The push is on to deploy high-speed, always-on residential Internet access

With gross domestic product still 3% below its peak, growth flat over the past year and the economy having under-performed even the euro zone over the past five years despite the benefits of a substantial devaluation and a massive program of quantitative easing, many believe that BOE obstinacy has held back the recovery.

WSJ: Some of the Carney Gloss Is Coming Off

Car sales were flat, suggesting that they might be nearing their peak.

FORBES: Can GM And Ford Keep Trucking Ahead After Slower February Sales?

In comparison, it said Apple's market share will peak at 22 percent in 2013 and remain flat through 2018, seeing a widening gap with Samsung.

NPR: Samsung 4Q Profits Top Forecasts On Galaxy Sales

King Peak, clad in Douglas fir, lords over Big Flat, its summit (4, 087 ft.) just 3 miles inland.

FORBES: Paradise Lost

At the same time, the utilities charge residential consumers a flat rate, giving them no incentive to run appliances during off-peak hours.

ECONOMIST: Energy in Japan