71.   Fuel costs are up sharply, as they were in the last slowdown, but newer planes are more fuel-efficient.

72.   Fuel costs at Delta, Southwest and American, a unit of AMR, rose much less, and all three stayed in the black.

73.   He acknowledged the increases in sales tax, fuel costs and electricity rates are the most painful.

74.   He said airlines are enjoying some relief from rising fuel costs after a year of skyrocketing rises.

75.   He said more direct routes for airlines will mean lower fuel costs, lower personnel costs and higher productivity for airline passengers.

76.   High borrowing and fuel costs have cut into sales in all industries, and profit growth is the weakest it has been in four years.

77.   Higher fuel costs also could throw a damper on big fuel users, such as trucking companies and airlines, whose earnings have soared lately amid increased ticket sales.

78.   Higher fuel costs, he said, can be offset by traffic increases and more cost cutting.

79.   How much utility bills will actually drop remains in doubt, for the utility expects to ask for a rate increase to offset higher fuel costs.