61.   Thus, the government adds, these deals must hurt consumers, even if there is little immediate evidence of harm.

62.   Virginia regulators rejected the merger petition of Bell Atlantic and the GTE Corp., saying the companies did not provide enough evidence that their deal would not hurt consumers.

63.   Vacco said in his filing that the merger would hurt consumers because it would eliminate Bell Atlantic as a potential new competitor in the New York market.

64.   Others fear higher energy bills will hurt consumer spending.

65.   Brad Bourland, chief economist at the Saudi American Bank in Riyadh, said a boycott would hurt Saudi consumers more than American companies.

66.   Brent Frei, co-founder of the software firm Onyx, said the remedies sought by the states would hurt consumers.

67.   But critics say they hurt consumers and prevent small businesses and farmers from getting their products into stores.

68.   David Phelps, a spokesman for companies that use imported steel, said the decision is indicative of a trade policy that hurts consumers.

69.   Gates is the best person to argue that the proposals would hurt consumers, legal experts say.

70.   Gates is the best person to argue that the proposals would hurt consumers, legal experts said.