11.   The deficit has been shrinking for some time while the economy has been expanding.

12.   The deficit has shrunk every year since Clinton took office.

13.   The dollar was little changed against the yen as expectations the U.S. trade deficit shrank in September offset rising Japanese government bond yields, which boost the yen.

14.   The dollar rose against other major currencies on a day when reports from the U.S. and Japan gave fresh evidence the U.S. trade deficit is shrinking.

15.   The deficit shrank, in part, because a fuel glut forced down the price of imported oil.

16.   The dollar climbed against other major currencies amid fresh evidence the U.S. trade deficit is shrinking.

17.   The dollar rose to a two-week high against the deutsche mark after the U.S. government said its trade deficit shrank and U.S. stocks and bonds rallied.

18.   The federal budget deficit has been shrinking so rapidly in recent years that balancing the books now seems possible.

19.   Those political flare-ups would be easier for investors to ignore if the budget deficit is shrinking.

20.   Today, economists say, inflationary fears are rising even as the deficit shrinks.