Union officials explained the authority's more upbeat assessment by saying that it was trying to weaken support among moderates for a strike.

Two industry analysts offered upbeat assessments of the future.

Another upbeat assessment came from Intel, which predicted that its third-quarter sales would be 8 to 10 percent higher than the second quarter's.

Regarding the county's financial plan, the report said: "Over all, we agree with its upbeat assessment."

The president paired his upbeat assessment with a commitment to continue pushing for policies that he said would help employers and workers.

An analyst offered a relatively upbeat assessment after the call.

Instead his upbeat assessment of the current economy paradoxically may have hurt prices.

In general, the report gave an upbeat assessment about the well-being of American children.

That is a more upbeat assessment than the Bush administration offers.

Fans could be forgiven for taking Hamilton's upbeat assessment with a pinch of salt.