31.   Even if a strike is averted, the economy will still slow somewhat when the stepped-up production comes to an abrupt halt in the spring, economists said.

32.   Factories should stay busy, say economists, satisfying demand both in the United States and overseas.

33.   Even without a winning season, sports teams can make money today, said Stanford economist Roger Noll.

34.   Everything from car sales to department store sales have been lagging expectations, say economists.

35.   French consumer spending on manufactured goods rebounded in January, the latest sign the economy is picking up, economists said.

36.   French unemployment rose in May, providing more evidence its economy slowed in the second quarter, economists said.

37.   Germany will press its European Union partners Monday for tougher penalties on nations adopting a common European currency that let their budget deficits get too high, economists said.

38.   High unemployment is keeping consumer demand and prices at bay, economists said.

39.   Higher interest rates have slowed spending on durable goods recently and that could make job growth in Indiana dicey, an economist said.

40.   However, Japanese manufacturers are likely to continue exporting their way to recovery, economists said.