31.   Experts blame the increase on refinery problems in Northern California and a vow by oil-producing countries to reduce their output of crude oil.

32.   Few see rate increases on the horizon.

33.   Fluor blamed much of the increase on higher costs for bidding on projects and higher travel expenses associated with visiting the far-flung locales of potential jobs.

34.   Financially, the biggest test for the industry will be the effect of recent price increases on smoking rates.

35.   For its part, the government pinned the latest unemployment increase on a rising supply of workers, many from overseas.

36.   Fuller said employers were holding the line on fixed compensation, probably in an effort to maintain earnings growth and avoid price increases on goods and services.

37.   Forecasters would probably say that the Fed needs to be tougher, having passed up a rate increase on Tuesday.

38.   Gephardt has been a long-time critic of adjustments to the CPI, calling it a tax increase on the elderly, veterans and others.

39.   Goldenberg also rejects blaming the increase on global warming, saying storm patterns match his cycles rather than a gradual rise.

40.   Greenspan, to be sure, will justify a future rate increase on more than stock market excess.