11.   The March figures were distorted by Easter.

12.   To be sure, that figure is distorted because it includes many companies that are losing money.

13.   U.S. government reports in recent weeks have been unreliable, he added, because of delays forced by the U.S. government shutdown and snowstorms that distorted the figures.

14.   However, the figure was distorted by extraordinary gains.

15.   Ideally, productivityshould be measured on an industry-wide basis because factors like capitalintensiveness versus labour intensiveness can distort figures.

16.   Inadequate surveillance methods which target this high-risk group, entrenches its stigmatisation and grossly distorts epidemiological figures.

17.   But the official noted the May figures were partly distorted by a series of holidays stretching from late April to early May.

18.   The timing of the Lunar New Year holidays -- in January last year and February this year -- distorted the figures.

19.   Trade barriers on beef, sales taxes and non-traded influences on a national currency, such as rents, may distort figures.

20.   Western analysts and United Nations peacekeepers in Mozambique argue that the government may have distorted earlier figures, but that they do not believe it is hiding soldiers.