31.   And given the early signs of an economic downturn, the new president comes to office with a new set of goalposts.

32.   And some sectors, like retailing and apparel, are already in trouble and could suffer a great deal in the next economic downturn.

33.   And New York City is still suffering from the combined effects of an economic downturn and the terrorist attacks.

34.   And now, with the market turning bearish on the threat of an economic downturn, that diploma will matter.

35.   And it has not been immune to the economic downturn.

36.   And it will be more than just the economic downturn that makes the pending financial footwork so complicated.

37.   And Southern California, which is finally emerging from its worst economic downturn in decades, is ground zero of the store wars.

38.   And once an economic downturn occurs, the projected budget surplus that both Bush and Gore have relied on may shrink or disappear.

39.   And while managing during any economic downturn is a challenge, executives face a particularly formidable task this time around.

40.   And while some officials fret about an economic downturn, others worry that the real curve ball may come in the area of foreign affairs.