11.   Automakers are seeing signs that consumers will continue to cut back on vehicle buying.

12.   Barring that, consumers will continue to buy cars.

13.   Because consumers continued to spend during this recession, they may be paying off bills long into the recovery.

14.   Because the rollout of fast broadband services has been slower than expected, dial-up consumers continue to twiddle their thumbs while Web pages and files download.

15.   Big department stores and discount chains had the biggest sales gains, as consumers continued to be cautious spenders.

16.   Big department stores and discount chains registered the biggest sales gains, as consumers continued to spend cautiously, gravitating to stores that offered markdowns on summer merchandise.

17.   But American consumers have continued to spend, and overall economic activity has not fallen off a cliff.

18.   But if consumers continue to trim their purchases this year, the forecast would be more bleak.

19.   But luxury-goods retailers in Japan are thriving, even as overall consumer spending has continued to fall.

20.   But now that the immediacy of the terrorist attacks has passed and the pace of economic growth remains moderate at best, will consumers continue to spend?