11.   Economists combine data for the two months to eliminate any seasonal bias due to the weeklong Chinese New Year holiday that falls around that time.

12.   Government offices were closed for a weeklong holiday Wednesday.

13.   In currency dealings, the dollar edged lower Friday as traders sold out dollar positions ahead of a weeklong holiday season in Japan.

14.   Israel was widely expected to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip before the start of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Passover on Friday to prevent possible attacks.

15.   Israel was expected to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip before the start Friday of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Passover to prevent possible attacks.

16.   Israeli security forces were on high alert Monday for possible bomb attacks during the weeklong Passover holiday that began Saturday evening.

17.   Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire early Saturday as Israel prepared for the weeklong Passover holiday amid renewed threats that Islamic militants would set off bombs.

18.   Israelis crowded supermarkets, cleaned house and immersed pots in boiling water Tuesday in preparation for the weeklong Jewish Passover holiday.

19.   Japanese stocks fell on the first trading day of the year Monday when investors back from a weeklong holiday dumped shares amid fear of further business failures.

20.   Jewish law forbids the eating of leavened food products, such as bread, during the weeklong holiday that begins Friday night.