  Explicit exponential stability tests are obtained for the scalar neutral
differential equation $$ \dot{x}(t)-a(t)\dot{x}(g(t))=-\sum_{k=1}^m
b_k(t)x(h_k(t)), $$ together with exponential estimates for its solutions.
Estimates for solutions of a non-homogeneous neutral equation are also
obtained, they are valid on every finite segment, thus describing both
asymptotic and transient behavior. For neutral differential equations,
exponential estimates are obtained here for the first time. Both the
coefficients and the delays are assumed to be measurable, not necessarily
continuous functions.
