21.   Also yesterday, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. reported weaker sales in October, though the declines were smaller than expected.

22.   Although health officials first noticed a drop in the number of cases last year, skeptics felt the decline might have been a statistical fluke.

23.   Although some demographers have been wary of the new evidence that disease and disability rates are declining, many now say they believe the decline is real.

24.   Amazon said the decline was the result of price cuts in its book department.

25.   Although this decline was about triple the consensus estimate, analysts cautioned that the seasonal adjustment process was especially unreliable during the winter months.

26.   Among the factors Karmen cited were the decline of crack, the economic upturn and the more aggressive policing strategies.

27.   Among the other stocks posting big declines today were Middlefield-based Zygo Corp. and Stamford-based United Technologies Corp.

28.   Analysts said the decline will be short-lived after strong earnings reports for Hungarian exporters and new issues planned in Poland lure more foreign money.

29.   Analysts said the profit decline was less than expected.

30.   Analysts said those declines are likely to soon be reflected at the pump.