21.   A decline in sales gains has slashed profits at even the biggest companies.

22.   A jump in tax refunds may have helped fuel the sales gains.

23.   A large jump in output in a bid to grab market share could send prices crashing without producing a commensurate sales gain.

24.   A new label and accelerated dosage was approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration, setting the stage for further sales gains, Raab said.

25.   A subdued sales gain last month helps explain why retailers expect bigger increases in December as the holidays draw closer.

26.   A robust Christmas would mean sales gains starting in the high single digits.

27.   A slew of earnings reports from retailers showed strong sales gains at department and general merchandise stores, but poor showings at apparel retailers.

28.   After consolidations and bankruptcies eliminate some stories, retailers will start to see significant sales gains, analysts said.

29.   After using heavy discounts to lure shoppers to their stores, many retailers reported modest November sales gains Thursday.

30.   After many of them invested heavily in new computerized equipment and vowed to upgrade service, there was hope for big sales gains.