Such increases might seem insignificant at first glance, but they are troubling indicators to local law enforcement officers when compared with the rest of the city, where homicides declined by 20 percent and shootings by 17 percent.

There are still troubling indicators that Apple is not executing with the precision and discipline that it needs to demonstrate if it is to work its way back into the PC industry fray.

That his words are relevant again now is a troubling indicator of our national endurance.

Many conservative groups point to the increase as well as the statistics on single-parent households as troubling indicators of deeper societal problems.

Despite the troubling indicators, Mr. Steer of TRUSTe said the government should maintain its hands-off approach to the Internet since laws can be quickly outdated by new technologies.

Despite these troubling indicators, Vice President Al Gore was upbeat yesterday about Democratic prospects as he suggested that the party would catch up in the final full week of campaigning.

"There are troubling indicators to suggest that the recession has put rental housing in danger," he said.

The jubliant stock market is, however, choosing to shrug off some troubling indicators.

"The city's decision to borrow for expenses that were previously paid on a pay-as-you-go basis is a troubling indicator of the city's future financial health," Mr. Hevesi said in the letter.

Analysts saw the arrests as a troubling indicator of a harder line that Mr. Chávez has taken since he outlasted the strike and left the opposition divided.