11.   Bad loan problems at Japanese banks have weighed heavily on the economy here and curtailed growth throughout the region.

12.   Freezing temperatures in some locales, particularly Nebraska, could curtail new growth and cause other crop-related problems.

13.   Investors are worried that more fiscal austerity will curtail economic growth even further.

14.   Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea have since accepted multibillion dollar bailouts from the International Monetary Fund, which has imposed strict conditions aimed at curtailing growth.

15.   The bad-loan problem has curtailed economic growth by making banks reluctant to make new loans to even healthy companies.

16.   The tight fiscal policy will lessen public investment and reduce product demand and eventually help curtail economic growth.

17.   The new road is aimed at curtailing the growth of Ramallah, Israeli television said.