A new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that U.S. smoking rates have leveled off after decades of steady declines, the Washington Post reported Nov. 8.

Adult smoking rates have been flat for three straight years, CDC said, and smoking among high-school students has also leveled off or even increased somewhat. About 21 percent of U.S. adults smoke.

"Anytime we are not seeing a decline, it's a cause of real concern to us," said Corrine Husten of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, who blamed cigarette-industry discounts and declining state spending on prevention for the stall. William Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the Bush administration has been "AWOL regarding tobacco control -- doing little or nothing."

Industry discounts have largely offset cigarette tax increases, meaning that cigarette prices have remained relatively unchanged since 2002. Federal tobacco taxes have not been increased in more than a decade, and the Bush administration has opposed raising tobacco taxes to pay for children's health care.