21.   Zarrella said rising fuel costs, interest rates and a sharp decline in consumer confidence had kept buyers out of showrooms.

22.   Dealers said that investors had sold because pre-Christmas sales were weak owing to mild weather which kept buyers away from shops.

23.   Saab blamed the slump on bad weather, with snowstorms and flooding keeping potential buyers away from showrooms.

24.   Singapore share prices closed virtually flat in quiet trade Friday with a lack of positive leads keeping aggressive buyers away, dealers said.