21.   DISAPPOINTING RESULTS AT NOVELL Novell, the troubled provider of computer networking software, reported a sharp decline in revenues as it tried to reduce excess inventory among resellers.

22.   During the first three months of the year, output slowed as manufacturers cut back production to reduce their inventories of unsold goods.

23.   During the quarter, Compaq struggled to reduce inventory while price cutting ate away most of its profit.

24.   ECR allows grocers to cut costs, and reduce inventory by tracking consumer buying habits.

25.   Economic growth may also be held back as companies continue to reduce their inventories.

26.   Eventually, however, wholesalers may stop buying to reduce their inventories, causing sales to plummet.

27.   Farmland has trimmed debt loads through cost reductions and reduced grain inventories.

28.   Fiat has said it will slow production for several weeks in the holiday season to reduce inventories.

29.   Executives, however, said they will temper hiring plans in the next three months, as well as reduce inventories and decrease capital spending, the report said.

30.   Gasoline rose on expectations that consumer demand during the peak summer driving period will help reduce inventories.