11.   The problem is consumer spending remains sluggish because household debt levels have risen for more than two years and loan delinquencies are on the rise.

12.   Tomorrow the Japan Department Store Association will release sales figures for Tokyo-area stores in August, which are expected to confirm that consumer spending remains weak.

13.   Tomorrow, the Japan Department Store Association will release sales figures for Tokyo-area stores in August, which are expected to confirm that consumer spending remains weak.

14.   Underscoring that, a private report showed retail sales rose in February, a sign consumer spending remains strong.

15.   Whether Aznar, who heads a minority government, has the political will to attack the structural problems that fuel government spending remains to be seen.

16.   Yet home, automobile and electronics sales plummeted more than expected, and spending remains weak.

17.   AMD said its research and development spending remains at record levels and its product release plans remain on schedule.

18.   Consumer spending remains flat but is not worsening because a pickup in the manufacturing sector has helped employment, the report said.

19.   Despite rising interest rates intended to slow growth, the Commerce Department reported Thursday that consumer spending remains strong.

20.   Despite rising interest rates intended to slow growth, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday that consumer spending remains strong.