1.   Although scientists have long known that the universe is expanding, they had assumed that the expansion was gradually slowing because of the gravitational attractions of the galaxies.

2.   At home, expansion is slowing.

3.   Auto and consumer product imports tumbled, offering further evidence that the expansion is slowing.

4.   Indeed, economists say credit expansion already has slowed in the last few months as lenders tightened credit.

5.   Most economic indicators in the last few months have suggested that the long business expansion is slowing somewhat from its torrid pace late last year and earlier this year.

6.   Recently, that expansion has slowed.

7.   That means more money spent marketing and installing DSL, less going to investments in international businesses, where Dykes predicted expansion will slow.

8.   That makes expansion slow, though he said he would prefer a bank loan to a partner.

9.   That theory contradicts the widely held assumption that cosmic expansion is slowing over time.

10.   The report provided further evidence that the manufacturing expansion was slowing and eased fears that the Fed would increase interest rates next week.