1.   When the economy lost steam, the retailer was left with plenty of stores and debt.

2.   Also today, reports on factory output and consumer confidence suggested the economy may be losing some steam.

3.   Americans, who brushed off earlier signs that business was slowing, now realize the economy is losing strength as consumer confidence posted its sharpest drop in three years.

4.   Analysts at NationsBank Corp. in New York attributed the increase to slower growth in tax receipts as the U.S. economy loses momentum.

5.   Analysts said the numbers were in line with expectations that the economy is losing steam.

6.   And if both consumers and businesses feel compelled to retrench, the economy could lose steam quickly.

7.   And the U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs in May for a second month in a row.

8.   As an economy loses pace, fewer jobs are created, meaning less tax in total is collected from the workforce.

9.   As anemic as the numbers were, analysts said they were in line with expectations that the economy was losing steam.

10.   At the same time, the economy is losing momentum.