21.   Construction activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is strong, and demand for cement is expected to rise accordingly.

22.   Construction activity is on the rise.

23.   Construction activity remained in the doldrums.

24.   Construction activity, meantime, was mixed.

25.   Construction activity and home sales are also likely to plunge because of the storm, analysts said.

26.   Construction activity has set new records in each of the past three months.

27.   Demand is expected to fall during the summer when construction activity slackens and copper wire and tube manufacturing slows in North America and Europe.

28.   He said that rate reflects a rebound from the weak first quarter, when cold weather curbed construction activity.

29.   Higher interest rates could chill new construction activity and discourage bank customers from seeking new credit.

30.   High rates tend to slow construction activity, so with the outlook for lower rates activity likely will increase.