ADJ

constant, expected, regular, steady
slow
the slow rate of change
fast, rapid
alarming, phenomenal
The costs of the project are rising at an alarming rate
low
There is a low survival rate among babies born before 22 weeks
high
ever-increasing, rocketing
seasonally-adjusted
The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in December stood at 5%
success
divorce, marriage
death, mortality
survival
birth, fertility
accident
crime
growth, inflation
metabolic, pulse, respiratory
We need to eat less as we get older and our metabolic rate slows down

VERB + RATE

improve, increase, speed up
cut, hold down, reduce, slow down
trying to hold down the rate of inflation
stabilize
maintain
increase

RATE + VERB

be/go/shoot up, grow, increase, rise, rocket, skyrocket, soar
be/ come/go down, decline, decrease, drop, fall, plummet, plunge, slow, slip

PREP

at a/the ~
The water was escaping at a rate of 200 gallons a minute

ADJ

competitive, cheap, low, moderate, reasonable
We have a wide range of vehicles available for hire at competitive rates. Calls are cheap rate after 6 p.m
extortionate, high
excellent, good
poor
The account offers a poor rate of interest
fixed, flat
You can opt to pay a flat rate for unlimited Internet access
usual
going
I'll pay you at the going rate (= the present usual rate of payment)
variable
annual, hourly, weekly
base, basic, standard
top
paying the top rate of tax
average
market
current market rates for borrowing
group, preferential, reduced
Ask about the special group rates for entrance to the house and gardens
bank, exchange, interest, lending, mortgage, tax

VERB + RATE

determine, fix, set
increase, lift, put up, raise
cut, lower, reduce
hold
We will hold these rates until 1 April
charge
They charge the usual rate of interest
pay
give (sb), offer (sb)

RATE + VERB

go/shoot up, increase, rise
Their hourly rates have gone up
come/ go down, drop
fluctuate
Exchange rates are fluctuating wildly
apply to sth
Standard rates of interest apply to these loans

PREP

at a/the ~
borrowing money at a high rate of interest
~ for
the average rate for an unskilled worker
~ of
an increase in the rate of taxation

PHRASES

a drop in interest rates, a rise in mortgage rates, etc.
a one-point rise in base lending rates
a rate of return
safe investments which give a good rate of return