If the price then retreated to $4, the decline would be 20 percent.

But the central bank sent no such signal yesterday, and prices retreated as a result.

Moreover, there are those who still expect prices to retreat when oil from Iraq reaches the market.

Still, crude prices have also retreated from their highs in recent weeks.

Palm's price has retreated to about $34, but 3Com's price is also down.

Gold fillings are making a comeback as prices have retreated.

But there was no follow-through buying and prices retreated to opening levels.

Ms. Ruland said that by next summer the prices should retreat to the levels where they were earlier this year.

Interest rates advanced as prices of Treasury securities retreated with the dollar.

No one has raised the specter of gasoline shortages, and prices at the pump have actually retreated a bit in recent days.