21.   The company said revenue also will be lower than expected because of extended plant shutdowns by other automakers.

22.   The gains came even after plant shutdowns this month following a fire at brake-parts supplier Aisin Seiki Co.

23.   The increased earnings reflect rising steel prices and demand, the effects of a year-earlier plant shutdown and efforts by Canadian steelmakers to improve productivity and quality.

24.   The number of American workers applying for state unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since January, as autoworkers returned to work after seasonal plant shutdowns.

25.   The third quarter is usually weak because plant shutdowns for vacations leave the auto companies with less production and fewer sales over which to spread fixed costs.

26.   The third quarter tends to be the weakest for the automakers because of plant shutdowns for vacations.

27.   Unseasonably cold weather in April and a recent spate of nuclear power plant shutdowns boosted gas demand, traders said.

28.   While the seasonal plant shutdowns blur the July claims statistics, this year the picture could be even more confusing, analysts say.

29.   Automakers also seek to avoid pushing sales with higher incentives, believing that the cost of plant shutdowns and the resulting decrease in revenue is cheaper.

30.   Automakers are trying to avoid stimulating sales with higher incentives, believing that the cost of plant shutdowns is cheaper.