31.   Business continues to slump amid stiff competition from major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Circuit City Stores.

32.   Businesses continued to cut spending on new plants and equipment during the quarter.

33.   Businesses have also continued to build up inventories, rather than rundown stockpiled goods, as had been anticipated.

34.   Business will continue, she said, under the assumption that Prudential will go it alone for the foreseeable future.

35.   Business would continue as usual, he continued, with him at the helm.

36.   Business continues as usual, as does the pro-government union machine that dominates labor affairs in this country.

37.   Businesses continue to cut their spending, layoffs are still mounting, and consumers are displaying growing signs of hesitation.

38.   Businesses continued to draw down inventories during the first quarter, but at a much reduced rate from the fourth quarter of last year.

39.   Businesses continued to gear up.

40.   Business continued as usual, however, at the federal helium reserve in Amarillo, Texas, operated by the Bureau of Mines.