1.   Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy.

2.   And even those better positioned to ride out a longer downturn may be forced to cut back on spending to pay down debt, further weakening the economy.

3.   Because consumer spending drives roughly two-thirds of the economy, analysts worry that the drop in confidence could weaken the economy even more.

4.   A report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday took into a account weakening Asia economies.

5.   A war, if it occurs, could raise the price of oil and weaken the economy, as it did during the Gulf War.

6.   A. The point is that a weak dollar eventually, over a long period of time, will weaken the economy.

7.   But if consumers cut back and weaken the economy, then credit card losses are likely to go nowhere but up.

8.   But the often-corrupt, top-down capitalism that weakened the economies of Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia describes China equally well.

9.   Contrary to accepted wisdom, the falling market, by extinguishing consumption, would definitely weaken the economy.

10.   Higher interest rates can boost borrowing costs, crimping corporate expansion plans and weakening the economy.