21.   Manufacturing employment continues to suffer because manufacturers still have not finished working off high inventories that accumulated as the economy was slowing earlier in the year, Dederick said.

22.   Matsushima added that corporate profits were losing steam, and companies are taking more time than expected to shed high inventories.

23.   Milder-than-expected winter weather reduced consumption of heating fuels, leaving inventories high.

24.   Natural gas futures fell to their lowest price in a month amid unexpectedly high inventories and a forecast for warmer weather.

25.   Prices are expected to remain steady during the next few months, reflecting high inventories built up in the last year by stainless steel companies.

26.   Retail sales, while lower than hoped, are not creating high inventories.

27.   Sluggish sales and high inventories will continue to burden companies that misjudged the impact on consumer spending of a sales tax increase in April.

28.   Some analysts expressed concern about high inventories while others dismissed such fears.

29.   Some economists expect high inventory levels will keep the manufacturing sector from growing much in the next few months.

30.   Sluggish sales and high inventories will continue to burden companies that underestimated the impact on consumer spending of a national sales tax increase in April.