11.   Construction companies are plagued by slowing sales, bulging inventories and financial woes caused by a sluggish property market.

12.   CVS, one of the largest drugstore chains, lowered its forecast for the third quarter because the company projects slowing sales in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

13.   Dragging it down was a big stake in Coca-Cola, the longtime beverage of champions that failed to clear government hurdles to acquisitions abroad and experienced slowing sales.

14.   Even the biggest of tech companies are paying more attention to their expenses these days in light of slowing sales and dreary forecasts.

15.   Eventually, rising interest rates will translate into costlier home mortgages and other bank credit, slowing sales of expensive goods.

16.   Faced with slowing sales in Europe, Michelin is trying to boost profit by slashing debt and cutting costs at home.

17.   Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp., faced with slowing sales, both said recently they will build fewer vehicles in North America in the third quarter.

18.   He cited slowing sales in the semiconductor market, which Millipore serves.

19.   He must do that while facing the business reality of slowing sales of super premium ice cream.

20.   Hewlett-Packard Co. said growth in new orders for computer equipment in the third quarter will be below the second quarter because of slowing sales.