1.  An adjustment is made for leap year but private analysts said it was faulty, diminishing reported sales more than it should have.

2.  An assessment of traps awaiting Clinton in China can be pieced together from officials and private analysts.

3.  And officials and private analysts say the need to get statisticians back to work by mid-January has now become urgent.

4.  As the first report on economic conditions during the month just ended, the purchasing managers survey is closely watched by private analysts and policy makers.

5.  But government and private analysts caution that January figures are particularly hard to interpret because of the inflows and outflows of holiday workers.

6.  But private analysts said that there was considerable evidence that banks continued to pursue low credit risks with zeal as they strive to make as many loans as possible.

7.  But private analysts say the venture might suffer amid growing federal budget battles and the ambivalence among members of Congress about aiding Russia.

8.  But private analysts noted two main reasons for the contraction and said that neither was likely to be repeated soon.

9.  But private analysts tend to agree with the Clinton administration that the economy may have already bottomed out, with excess inventories now pared enough to spark resumed growth.

10.  But many private analysts and some administration officials say that could change if the full impact of the stunning drop in the dollar becomes evident later in the year.