But sales of firearms have proven steady and notably impervious to the fluctuations of the business cycle that shape other industries.
Rubicon in San Francisco, backed by Mr. De Niro, as well as by Robin Williams and Francis Ford Coppola, has proved a steady hit.
So far he has proved a steady hand, less flashy than his predecessor - but that is probably no bad thing.
However, instead of oil, about 80% of the drilling rigs in Oklahoma are searching for natural gas.Oil prospecting may be sexier, but in Oklahoma's history natural gas has proved a steadier bet.
He has proved to be a steady hand at the wheel, shoring up the organization's finances, leaving it free of debt and expanding its presence abroad.
After being acquired from Philadelphia during the off-season, he has proved to be a steady and reliable force inside and is averaging 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds.
The system's "Read Down Your Fees" program, which has existed for several years, has proved popular, drawing a steady crowd of users, especially after school, to many of the 62 branches that make up the Queens Library system.
In a strategy memorandum released by the Democratic campaign on Monday, Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, argues that Mr. Obama has proved to be a "steady and strong leader" around the world.
Through 19 games, Bradley, a freshman who has started all but two, has proved to be the steadiest hand in Coach Rick Barnes's crowded backcourt.
But in western countries the promise of a steady job has proved ever more elusive.
