1.   Because retail and service jobs pay less in Japan, that could dampen consumption, some economists say.

2.   A subway gas attack, which left more than a dozen people dead in March, also dampened consumption by making people nervous about going out shopping.

3.   OPEC does not want to risk an economic slowdown in Western countries that would dampen oil consumption.

4.   Still, economists cautioned that growth was likely to slow again this year as tax increases, to take effect in April, dampen consumption.

5.   That fueled concern higher borrowing costs to companies will boost production costs, narrow profits, and dampen consumption, analysts said.

6.   Though the stores may be part of the charm of Italian cities, their inefficiency and high prices fuel inflation and dampen consumption.

7.   A government program to dampen consumption has nearly eliminated the trade deficit in the first two months of this year, Buira Seira said.

8.   The higher tax has dampened consumption in Japan, depressing import growth.

9.   The plunging exports were due largely to reduced demand from Japan and Southeast Asian countries where the regional crisis continued to dampen domestic consumption, he said.

10.   This, in turn, will dampen oil consumption.