61. The move is expected to ease Korean tensions, which have been rising since a clash of warships in the Yellow Sea last week. 62. The irony was that expectations of a breather had been rising since the December retail sales report indicated significant weakness at the height of the holiday buying season. 63. The price of ethylene, a basic chemical used in plastics, paints and cosmetics, has risen since February. 64. Vehicle sales rose since the summer as consumers bought new models introduced in September before the consumption tax increase. 65. While mortgage rates have risen since February, some analysts see housing construction maintaining strength this spring, in part because the inventory of vacant homes is shrinking. 66. Yields in France, Germany, Italy and Britain have been rising since late last year. 67. Yes, many companies are approaching full capacity, and industrial raw-materials prices have been rising rapidly since late last year. 68. Prices on everything from telephone service and transportation to food have risen since December, while paychecks have lagged. 69. After a moderate fall in prices of transport, housing and food early this year, the costs have been rising since March. 70. According to a Canon executive, the production capacity in Thailand has risen since the baht depreciation while operations in Japan, Europe and the US have been reduced. |