FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the ninth consecutive time on Thursday, but raised the possibility of a pause in September as inflation pressures show tentative signs of easing and recession worries mount. Fighting off a historic surge in prices, the ECB has now lifted borrowing costs by a combined 425 basis points since last July, worried that price growth could be perpetuated by both rising costs and wages in an exceptionally tight jobs market. With Thursday's 25-basis-point move, the ECB's deposit rate stands at 3.75%, its highest level since 2000 - before euro notes and coins were even in circulation.