81.   A feeble economy and weak consumer spending have curbed automobile sales in Japan for more than two years.

82.   But economists said the increase does not represent a significant change in weak consumer spending trends.

83.   But he said weak consumer spending is likely to hit American companies, making the U.S. stock market less attractive.

84.   Despite the background of increasing business investment, weak domestic consumer demand was still squeezing many companies.

85.   Industry executives have said retailers continue to struggle against weak consumer demand.

86.   Inflation fears came to the fore Wednesday after the government released figures indicating rising inflationary pressures combined with weak consumer confidence.

87.   It will also be one of the most challenging for the software giant to sell, as the company faces an antitrust battle in court and weak consumer demand.

88.   Japan has been in the doldrums for most of this decade, beset by a bad debt-ridden banking sector and weak consumer spending.

89.   Since the country has been facing liquidity crunch last year, car sales have plummeted due to weak consumer purchasing power.

90.   Slowing investment, intense competition for overseas markets and weak consumer spending pushed more companies into the red, Sheng said.