1.   Sears Roebuck bucked the largely bleak holiday sales trend, reporting significant increases in apparel sales.

2.   The hospital reported an increase in premature births.

3.   The ruling was made on the grounds that he had a well-founded fear of persecution in Germany where monitoring groups had reported an increase in racist attacks.

4.   They were pleased with the results and reported an increase in their social activities.

5.   The organisers of the awards reported an increase in the fouling of beaches by solid sewage despite a multi-billion pound clean-up by the water companies.

6.   Although not a lot of leases have been signed recently, brokers report an increase in activity, with prospective tenants looking at available spaces.

7.   Also, only the South and the Midwest reported increases.

8.   Amazon.com, America Online and Bluelight.com, the Internet arm of Kmart, also reported healthy increases in sales.

9.   And since January, outfitters report increases in inquiries and bookings that may signal a return to typical travel levels.