1.   In a separate report, the Conference Board, a research group, said consumer confidence dropped sharply in January.

2.   Monroe was correct in saying that unemployment has dropped in the last five years.

3.   Also today, the government reported initial jobless claims for last week fell and industrial production dropped in the month of May.

4.   Although the lottery is more accepted and far less intrusive than video gambling, several polls show that its popularity in Alabama has dropped in recent months.

5.   Although the savings from using that fund drop off in later years, that could be addressed by making other spending cuts in the future, the official said.

6.   Although the Texas cattlemen were never mentioned in the broadcast, they still suffered damages when cattle prices dropped in the two days after the show, Coyne said.

7.   Aluminum production in the United States has dropped sharply in recent months, and prices have risen.

8.   Analysts said they expect those to remain flat in the quarter, as home starts unexpectedly dropped in October to the lowest level in a year.

9.   As crime rates locally and nationally have continued to drop in recent years, so has concern over personal safety.

10.   As can be expected, interest in ski sites on line seems to increase sharply as temperatures drop in the fall, ski Web site operators say.