71.   A separate Labor Department report showed collective bargaining settlements during the third quarter resulted in smaller wage increases for workers.

72.   A strengthening economy could result in demands for more wage increases, pushing consumer prices higher and leading to an acceleration in the rate of inflation.

73.   After several hours of skirmishing, the House quit for the night before voting on either the wage increase or the exemptions.

74.   After years of holding steady, unit labor costs have been on the rise, which means that wage increases are at last beginning to outstrip productivity gains.

75.   Along with higher consumer spending, a wage increase could also reignite inflation.

76.   But a few other economists warned that wage increases and other pressures could start to rekindle inflation this year, should the Fed continue to lower interest rates.

77.   But Alex Martin, manager of Sibleys Shoes across the street, shrugged off the wage increase as unimportant.

78.   But an important test came last summer, when the pilots union and the International Association of Machinists started negotiating with the company for wage increases.

79.   But few members voiced enthusiasm about the accord, saying they would have liked a larger wage increase.

80.   But economists said the wage increase was not enough to raise any concerns about higher inflation.