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

12.   Bad news for computer makers like AST Research Inc., and apparel retailers like Limited Inc.

13.   Bankruptcy Judge Tina Brozman instead ordered that Weil, Gotshal reimburse Leslie Fay, an apparel retailer, for the expense of having to investigate the alleged conflicts.

14.   ------ Offprice apparel retailers typically retain ad agencies to fill the airwaves with TV ads and slogans.

15.   A slew of earnings reports from retailers showed strong sales gains at department and general merchandise stores, but poor showings at apparel retailers.

16.   But because the assortment of merchandise overlaps slightly with other apparel stores, Elements is vulnerable to the economic pressures facing other apparel retailers.

17.   But it was a decidedly different story for investment bank and brokerage stocks, for apparel retailers, airlines and life insurance companies.

18.   Defense electronics, apparel retailers, hotel, airline and chemical stocks gave the fattest returns.

19.   Department stores and discounters posted strong gains for the month due to summer merchandise, but specialty apparel retailers fared worse.

20.   Department stores, which for the past year have been stealing sales from specialty apparel retailers, also posted modest results.