1.   At their current level, says the president, Gene Raplye, the wages are low enough for him to absorb an increase provoked by a higher federal minimum.

2.   But Enron officials said the company had decided that it would absorb any increases in power rates for these customers.

3.   In particular, Fed members questioned whether measurements of productivity were accurately reflecting increases in the ability of companies to absorb prices increases through greater efficiency.

4.   Others, mindful of union concerns and competition for employees in a tight labor market, have swallowed hard and absorbed the increases.

5.   Positive economic incentive effects from reduced marginal tax rates will push out the aggregate supply curve to more than absorb demand increases without raising prices.

6.   Resistance in absorbing premium increases is not limited to small businesses, according to Breslin.

7.   Some long-time Web users say the Internet can easily absorb the increase in traffic, even though there may be isolated problems of overloading.

8.   Still, demand could wind up stronger than expected, absorbing the increase in supply and buoying prices.

9.   That would absorb the increase in U.S. gasoline production, which is running close to its limit.

10.   The agency said in a report that the companies are now in a better position to absorb an increase in material prices.