Surge is one of the best ways to describe a strong, rapid increase. Learning how to describe powerful changes in the price or quantity of something is very important in business, finance, and politics. http://financebusinessenglish.com/greed-has-marked-the-upward-surge-of-mankind/

In water flow, if there is a sudden increase in the flow rate, it is called a "surge." The "surge" of the Iraqi war was a sudden increase in troops.