In the slumping national economy, the city has been unable to create new jobs, which was a major goal, said Mr. Jordan of the chamber of commerce.

All this comes against the backdrop of a slumping regional economy and rising inflation.

A slumping economy is no time to worry about balancing the budget.

Among the factors Coke cited for the decline were the slumping Japanese economy and the weather.

The slumping national economy governs his days.

International Western Germany's inflation rate rose sharply, diminishing the chances that interest rates will soon be lowered to stimulate the slumping German economy.

But traders took it as a further indication of the slumping American economy, which generally erodes the dollar's value against foreign currencies.

What is more, the Saudis recognize that a jump in prices could undermine a recovery of the slumping American economy.

The move was prompted by a decline in automobile demand in the slumping Japanese economy, continued weakness in overseas markets and heightened competition.

Since the beginning of 2001, the United States and the rest of the world have been struggling to revive their slumping economies.