51.   The data indicated a sharp slowdown in economic activity and was at odds with analysts, many of whom had expected the number to rise slightly.

52.   The declines have coincided with a sharp slowdown in U.S. economic growth.

53.   The sharp slowdown forced chief executive Heinrich von Pierer to step up job cuts.

54.   The sharp slowdown underscored just how much of a toll the terror attacks, rising layoffs and the sour economy have had on the American consumer.

55.   The U.S. dollar edged lower against the yen Wednesday on concerns that the U.S. economy is in for a sharp slowdown.

56.   The World Trade Organization has scaled back its predictions of trade growth for this year because of the sharp economic slowdown in Asia, officials said Thursday.

57.   They also said the sharp slowdown in economic activity was helping to ease inflationary pressures as wage demands soften with the rising jobless rate.

58.   This drop in consumer activity was part of a sharp slowdown in overall growth.

59.   Blue chip share prices opened lower Friday following the release of the latest jobless figures which raised fears of a sharp slowdown in the US economy.

60.   But the statistics office itself cautioned that the sharp slowdown this month was largely due to statistical effects.