1.   Businesses have been trimming the work force and paring inventories, preparing for the day when demand climbs again.

2.   Gillette has been paring its inventory ahead of the introduction to avoid having to cut prices on its older razors and blades.

3.   Greenspan said the current slowdown reflected an effort by companies to pare their inventories of unsold goods, which have risen sharply this spring.

4.   Many of the vendors on Rakuten are established companies looking to pare stale inventory without undercutting sales of their merchandise that is sold at full price.

5.   Other recent data show retail sales are rebounding, exports are rising, the housing sector is gaining strength and business inventories are being pared.

6.   Refiners spent the past year paring inventories to cut costs and free up their capital.

7.   Stepped-up spending would pare the inventory of excess homes and consumer goods that is keeping manufacturers on hold, analysts said.

8.   The auto industry has already pared inventories since April.

9.   The statement also said that retailers were paring inventories, but it did not mention the early-buy program.

10.   Other retailers said they would cut expenses and pare inventory to respond to the economic slowdown.