41.   At the same time, the number of poor Americans is increasing as the gap between rich and poor widens.

42.   Ballet is a highly competitive field today, with the numbers of well-trained dancers increasing as the jobs decrease.

43.   Because prices were set artificially high, production increased as consumption dropped, leaving many farmers with tons of unsold cloves.

44.   Beef prices could have increased as the Hudson Foods recall, the largest in history, removed supplies from the pipeline, analysts said.

45.   A military official said commando raids will increase as US intelligence agencies focus their energies on finding and neutralizing Taliban leaders and bin Laden.

46.   Aaron of the Brookings Institution said the pressure to add prescription benefits to Medicare would increase as more and better drugs became available from pharmaceutical companies.

47.   Also, claims against car insurance policies are increasing as crime rates rise, the federation said.

48.   Also, demand in the second half of the year is seen increasing as Japan steps up its purchases.

49.   Business benefited because the demand for service increased as people installed second phone lines for their computers.

50.   Business travel increased as the economy here and elsewhere improved.