41.   The buying binge forced stores to increase their purchase of imports.

42.   The Clinton administration is counting on the sanctions to break the resistance of the Japanese companies to developing voluntary plans for increasing their purchases of foreign automobile parts.

43.   The main sticking point in the talks has been U.S. insistence that Japanese companies agree to a plan to increase their purchases of American-made auto parts.

44.   The simultaneous expiration of options on individual stocks and stock indexes increased purchases of U.S. stocks by overseas money managers, traders said.

45.   The U.S. will ask Japanese carmakers to increase purchases of U.S. auto parts at their North American plants, the report said.

46.   U.S. officials have said the Japanese companies must renew their promises made earlier in the decade to increase purchases of foreign auto parts.

47.   Wholesale markets are expected to pick up later this year as Japan increases purchases of U.S. pork to make up for the loss of Taiwan imports, traders said.

48.   While spending on food items fell, consumers increased purchase of electronic appliances, furniture and cars, the report said.

49.   But the solution, legislation requiring drug makers to slash prices to increase purchases by consumers, could take years to implement, health services professor Alan Sager said.

50.   Elsewhere, the euro got a boost from confirmation that China has increased its purchases of the single currency in the last two months and intends to buy more.