51.   Clothing chains such as Gap are particularly guilty, because their small stores are quick to build and tempt with the fattest returns.

52.   Coincidentally, a Chicago Marriott was putting up a new sign so the hotel chain was able to ship the old letters.

53.   Competing suburban chains may be more concerned.

54.   Consumer electronics chains are expected to have the worst earnings results because of slack consumer demand, cutthroat price competition and a lack of new audio and video merchandise.

55.   Department store chains were the hardest hit.

56.   Drugstore chains are the most likely to follow suit, although not because they are disappointed with the profits from selling tobacco, according to retailing experts.

57.   Even as independent not-for-profit hospitals struggle for financing, for-profit hospital chains are awash in cash.

58.   Except for Best Western, which is an association of member hotels, the expanding mid-priced chains are franchise operations.

59.   Few other chains will be able to match those increases.