21.   But hiring typically lags behind sales increases as companies initially try to fill the extra orders by adding hours and improving efficiency.

22.   But retailers who are used to double-digit annual sales increases have started this year with sales that are at best flat and in most cases down.

23.   But the company also does not expect significant sales increases for several quarters.

24.   Cancer-fighting drugs and ophthalmic products also contributed to the sales increase over the period a year earlier.

25.   Chrysler and Ford posted big sales increases after launching major redesigns of their full-size pickups in recent years, and GM wants a boost with its redesign.

26.   Chrysler Corp. and General Motors Corp. also saw their sales increase in July.

27.   Clariant said all six businesses contributed to the sales increase.

28.   Clariant said all six business contributed to the sales increase.

29.   Coca-Cola and its bottling affiliate, Coca-Cola Enterprises, reported last week that Sprite had made significant contributions to sales increases in the second quarter.

30.   Cisco and several of its competitors actually saw their sales increase during the most recent fiscal quarter, although not by much.