11.   To survive, companies are paring their electricity trading units, once the engine of their earnings growth, and selling assets.

12.   With the economy slowing, and companies paring production in response to slower demand, price pressures are unlikely to accelerate.

13.   With less money coming in, companies are paring their work forces and refraining from hiring workers.

14.   Companies are paring their investments because of anemic consumer spending at home and dwindling demand for Japanese goods in overseas markets.

15.   Economists say companies must pare excess stocks in order to lay the foundation for increased production in the future, something that could help economic growth down the road.

16.   If it runs right, e-business software invariably enables companies to pare their payroll, either through layoffs or attrition.

17.   Some companies are paring back on their relationships with athletes in the belief that few are worth the money.

18.   The company will pare its fleet of seven ships down to one, the historic Delta Queen.

19.   To begin with, all companies are already paring their operating costs to the minimum.