The phrase "a stiff increase" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to describe a significant or abrupt rise in something, but it may not be the best choice of words.
Example: "The company reported a stiff increase in sales this quarter, surprising analysts."
Alternatives: "a sharp increase" or "a steep rise".
Among them is a stiff increase for taxes on gas and heating oil -- one of the main expenses for people like Mr. Mainka who own climate-controlled greenhouses.
And to reduce the impact on the deficit, it also includes a stiff increase in the fee paid by oil companies into a liability fund, increasing the current eight cent-per barrel charge to 49 cents.
In such cases, the spreading width of the excitation cannot be reproduced and the polarizability as a function of the excitation energy displays a stiff increase around the predicted centroid energy of the giant resonance.
Club members, most speaking only on the condition that they not be identified, say that the Met has demanded a stiff increase in fees for their clubhouse, which really annoys them, as their club is 108 years old and they feel they have been there financially for the tough times.
So, if you are facing a stiff increase in your premium, you might want to shift to a lower cost plan instead.
The U.S. Senate not only rejected a stiff increase in fuel efficiency standards but barred future increases on pickup trucks, a big victory for Detroit's Big Three automakers.
At my request, the Center for Responsive Politics broke down total campaign contributions by industry over the past decade, and the result shows a rapid increase of total donations by media, communications and electronics companies since the explosion of the Internet -- a stiffer increase than even those made by the health care industry.
In a flurry of television commercials and presentations by opponents in the final days before Monday's vote, opponents said paying to defend such a local law would require a significant cut in Fremont city services or a stiff tax increase — or some combination of the two.
The risks became starker when 50,000 people, mostly students, marched through the Whitehall government district on Wednesday to protest education spending cuts and the stiff increase in college tuition.
The buckling strength of the perfect tank placed on an extremely soft foundation and a stiff foundation increases by up to 1.6%and5.6%6%, respectively, compared with that of the perfect shell.
— here's a bit more: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported stiff increases in the proportion of older adults with "multiple chronic conditions" — more than one of the diseases that commonly affect this population.
