1.   Construction improved and cost pressures are easing, he added.

2.   However, increasing water, electricity and gas bills are adding to production cost pressures, the association says.

3.   And even if workers were plentiful, retailers still would use skeletal staffs because of cost pressures.

4.   As competition in the health marketplace intensifies and cost pressures grow, health-care analysts say the historical differences between nonprofits and for-profits are disappearing.

5.   Both moves were made with cost pressures in mind.

6.   Both the transactions announced today had cost pressures in mind.

7.   A new tentative contract reached by United with its pilots also promises to add to rising cost pressures in the industry.

8.   A spokesman said the slowdown in the economy should help ease cost pressures.

9.   Company executives here say the slowdown in unit sales is harder to explain than the cost pressures.

10.   Cost pressures are reshaping standard X-ray technology, too.