11.   The days when cotton was king here have long since passed, and now the oil boom has ended, too.

12.   The hard-core hold that the business boom will never end and that big-time inflation will never return.

13.   Then, booms ended in busts when bubbles of undue exuberance popped, exposing underlying economic fragilities.

14.   While many Americans fear their spectacular boom may be ending, most Europeans feel they are finally shaking free of their doldrums.

15.   After the boom ended, the theater fell into disrepair and was closed for many years.

16.   Despite the criticism, few believe the deal-making boom will end anytime soon.

17.   The race to stake new claims has given an economic boost to coastal cities hit hard when the last Gulf oil boom ended.