Either way, economists will applaud the triumph of consumer sovereignty.

The President's budget does contain some tax breaks that even the surliest economists applaud.

While some economists applauded the study's general view that environmental and economic health could be compatible, they said that the interaction between the two was too complicated to allow for simple testing.

But some economists applauded the new approach and said that in the long run it would prove much healthier for the economy, particularly manufacturers.

While some economists applaud such a plan, others warn that a weeklong shop-a-thon in the dead of winter may not provide enough evidence to justify a cut.

While foreign economists applaud these moves to rationalize the Chinese economy, ironically many ordinary Chinese are far less enthusiastic.

Some economists, planners and Brooklyn-watchers applaud the emergence of new stores, office buildings and a hotel as a source of potential jobs and tax revenues.

And many liberal economists applaud Frank's ability to put broad issues about consumption and public investment on the table.

Fiscal monitors and economists yesterday applauded the Mayor's estimates, noting that his are more conservative than those of Gov. George E. Pataki.

And most economists, who hold that free trade is close to heaven on earth, widely applauded.