31.   Economists now agree that it will take much longer than anticipated for these countries to catch up to the West.

32.   Economists widely agree that economic growth is slowing, nationally and in Massachusetts, as financial and economic turbulence around the world takes a toll.

33.   Economists agree that consumer spending is likely to remain limp into next year.

34.   Economists agree the budget is restrained enough to reassure the central bank and the belief it will cut its rate Friday has grown into a near certainty.

35.   Economists agree that other businesses will probably do likewise.

36.   Economists agree that the crisis was provoked by bad supervision and the excessive short-term borrowing of Korean businesses, not consumers.

37.   Economists agree that wages and employment are the most important factors determining consumer spending.

38.   Economists generally agree that two consecutive quarters of economic slowdown signals the start of a recession.

39.   Economists generally agreed that financial markets processed all new information about securities so efficiently that no one could get a consistent advantage over other investors.

40.   Even if recovery comes soon, economists agree that unemployment will keep rising for months to come.