In the short-run, grain prices can spike due to market shocks, so programs designed to blunt these price spikes may be warranted.
As motorists fume at record-high gasoline prices, which soared in advance of war in Iraq, California officials are studying proposals that could help blunt future price spikes and reduce the state's growing dependence on petroleum.
If, on the other hand, we face a prolonged global recession, substantial enough to blunt these price pressures, fiscal contraction will make the burden of funding government debt intolerable.
Kaleo, which is trying to blunt the pricing backlash and turn Evzio into the trusted brand, is dispensing its device for free — to cities, first responders and drug-treatment programs.
Their opponents argue that long periods of relatively low oil prices blunted the incentives for exploration.
But crude oil is priced in U.S. dollars, and the lower dollar price has been blunted by weak European currencies.
In its blunt way, "Price of Glory" makes clear that the psychological toll on these two boys is more punishing than any blows they may suffer in the ring.
Chris Weston of IG was blunter, saying: Price action in the Nikkei looks fairly sick right now... Having been one of the best performers last year, the Nikkei has been hit hard in recent weeks by concerns that emerging markets are heading for a fall.
Chevron missed first-quarter profit and sales estimates as falling production blunted the impact of surging oil prices.
By blunting the effect of price increases, it may also affect attempts to stub out smoking.
