11.   Both applications and acceptances showed sharp declines.

12.   Both Bush and Pataki heaped praise on Giuliani at the jobs center, where the mayor flanked a chart showing the decline in welfare since he took office.

13.   A quarterly survey to be released later Friday by the Bank of Japan is expected to show a decline in business optimism.

14.   A government report showing a decline in new home sales in December pushed down real estate stocks.

15.   A report Friday showed a decline in prices paid to factories and farmers last month.

16.   A report released in the U.S. yesterday showed a decline in manufacturing activity and buoyed hopes of a cut in U.S. interest rates before Christmas.

17.   A report from the Confederation of British Industry yesterday showed a decline in manufacturing output growth and a squeeze on company profit margins.

18.   After the plan ended last September, year-on-year comparisons show strong declines.

19.   Aircraft was among the areas showing decline.

20.   All major categories -- gasoline, home heating oil and residential gas -- showed declines.