1.   More recently, investors have fretted about fierce competition in the battery market, which has hurt Duracell.

2.   The company blamed discounting in the North American auto battery market for the decline in earnings.

3.   The company blamed the decline in earnings last year on a loss by Telectronics, discounting in the auto battery market and lower profit from its rubber cables group.

4.   The company blamed the decline in earnings on a loss by Telectronics, discounting in the auto battery market and lower profit from its rubber cables group.

5.   The oligopoly of the battery market enjoyed by Duracell and Energizer might look like an antitrust problem too.

6.   But the operation had been troubled by intense competition and margin pressure in the U.S. automotive battery market, and operating difficulties at one of the lead smelters.

7.   The company attributed the fall to tougher North American competition, softness in the European battery market and considerably higher marketing expenses.

8.   Duracell sales eased three percent, hit by tough competition in the battery market.