News In Brief

HONEY, LET'S GO SEE YOUR MOM

Mothers-in-law: They're easy-to-dislike meddlers, right? At least, that's what the stand-up comics would have us believe. But if results of a new survey of Canadians mean anything, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, 90 percent of respondents said they love their spouses' mothers. Nine percent even reported a closer relationship with a mother-in-law than with mom herself. The survey of 600 people aged 18 to 60 was conducted by Hallmark Canada and Chatelaine, a women's magazine.

AH, YES, I'VE HEARD OF YOU

What would you guess is the most common man's name in Britain? No, it's not John Smith - although that's pretty close. Answer: David Jones. According to the Office of National Statistics, 15,763 males in England and Wales had that name. Second place goes to David Smith. John Smith was third. As for females, No. 1 is Margaret Smith, of whom there were 7,640. Margaret Jones was second, followed by Susan Smith and Susan Jones.

Sales boom for many, but not all, Commerce projects

Computer and telephone companies should have a great year, while, thanks to the Asian currency crisis, aircraft manufacturers could have it rough. Those are Commerce Department projections in its annual report on sales growth for US industries. Those with the biggest predicted changes in sales from last year:

Top-performing

1. Semiconductors and related devices 23.0%

2. Telephone/telegraph equipment 12.3%

3. Radio/television communications equipment 10.0%

4. Printed circuit boards 9.2%

5. Oil/gas field machinery 9.1%

Bottom-performing

1. Aircraft - 20.4%

2.Women's handbags/purses - 13.4%

3. Personal leather goods - 10.6%

4. Leather gloves/mittens - 8.8%

5. Aircraft engines/engine parts - 8.0%

- Associated Press

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