1.   The loss of consumption is showing up at exchange warehouses, where copper inventories are rising.

2.   Along with crude oil, gasoline and heating oil inventories rose last week, exceeding analysts expectations.

3.   Analysts said recent fluctuations in crude oil imports make it hard to determine whether inventories will rise or fall.

4.   Analysts downgraded chipmakers in the U.S., citing concern that sales will slow next year, causing inventories to rise.

5.   As inventories rose, prices fell.

6.   As sales soften and inventories rise, rebates are rising as well, offsetting the effect of higher interest rates.

7.   At the retail level, though, inventories rose at building material stores, car dealers and apparel retailers.

8.   At the retail level, at least, inventories are rising, in part, as merchants prepare for the Christmas shopping season.

9.   Automakers and other manufacturers have watched their inventories rise since then and are likely to cut production in the autumn, economists said.

10.   Above-normal temperatures should allow inventories to rise further, traders said.