1.   And, in the cases of Mercer and Billups, those figures point to renouncement.

2.   But most retail executives and analysts agreed that despite some signs of strength, the monthly figures did not point to a genuine recovery in consumer spending.

3.   But most retail executives and analysts agreed that despite some signs of strength, the monthly figures do not point to a genuine recovery in consumer spending.

4.   Preliminary figures point toward a recommendation that Bush declare a disaster and open the way for federal assistance, Millwee said.

5.   Still, the second-quarter figures pointed to a turnaround in progress, said David Readerman, an analyst with Nationsbanc Montgomery Securities.

6.   The IMF figures point to an improvement in the economies of the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

7.   The state figures also point to a tightening inventory.

8.   Analysts said the figures pointed to further interest rate increases by inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve.

9.   He and many other private analysts thought the unemployment figures pointed to an economy that was weak but not in recession.

10.   Nerb said the figures pointed to the need for another interest rate cut by the European Central Bank to stimulate growth.