We're really talking about how to continue the orderly decline of these big producers who are now down to half the capacity of what they were 25 years ago.

And key countries could agree to intervene in currency markets to keep the dollar's decline gradual and orderly.

Even some economists who favor a stronger dollar believe that an orderly and moderate decline will not have a major impact on the economy.

"So far we are seeing, at worst, an orderly decline in the housing market," he said.

But the creeping decline of this week, he said, may signal that the Group of Seven will accept a gradual orderly decline.

The actual zones are unlikely to be disclosed, official sources said, and they could be broad enough to permit a further but more orderly decline of the dollar.

But European and Japanese central banks prevented panic by absorbing more than 100 billion unwanted dollars while making a show of having planned the dollar's orderly decline.

As he watched the screen, the market made an orderly decline, only to inch back.

But investors so far are buoyed by the belief that the Federal Reserve and other central banks are orchestrating an orderly decline in the dollar.

Mr. Baker indicated that Washington would tolerate a further orderly decline to stimulate the American economy.