In a way, the dismal economy of the last couple of years may help.

"One would hope that the dismal economy will pressure them to find a reasonable solution."

But in the dismal economy left behind by the collapse in oil prices, next week's convention here seems odder still.

And they have faith that New York's current dismal economy will rebound.

Even President George Bush, who would soon lose his job over the dismal economy, acknowledged that something was wrong.

His immediate task is to improve the dismal economy and the consequent social problems.

But Mahfouz did not want to talk about Egypt's dismal economy or incomplete democracy.

The dismal economy has changed all that.

And I think there can be no doubt what that reality is: the dismal Soviet economy.

Forrester Research estimates that despite the dismal economy, online apparel and footwear sales will be $5.2 billion this year, up 21 percent.