This is telling you that their need for raw materials is not a short-term blip.

If the reduction in thefts proves to be a trend and not a short-term blip, it will be reflected in the premium.

Scientists cannot say yet whether the cooling is a short-term blip masking a long-term warming trend or a long-term trend contrary to their predictions.

It's hard to tell whether slackers are a short-term actuarial blip, like yuppies and compassionate conservatives, or a more permanent phenomenon.

Traders say that a short-term blip in certain interest rates generated by auction bidding would not necessarily offer that group any real opportunities.

Some of this might be a short-term blip, but the prospects for 2011 are not encouraging as the expected large-scale job losses in the public sector have still to feed through.

They contend that any short-term blips in the market - because of conflicts with the White House - would be washed away by long-term benefits.

It depends on whether this is a short-term blip or a long-term trend.

"This'll be a short-term blip," Mr. Default said.

"Everybody, including myself, views this as a short-term blip," Mr. Geisst said.