slacken.01
frames-  [ARG1  Car sales]  [rel  slackened]  [ARGM-TMP  in September]  [ARGM-TMP  after the 1990 models were introduced *-1]  .
-  But the first quarter of the year is generally the weakest and [ARG1  OPEC production]  does n't seem *-1 to be [rel  slackening]  [ARGM-ADV  in anticipation of that]  .
-  [ARGM-TMP  Now]  , he said 0 *T*-1 , [ARG0  a slowdown in economic activity]  has [rel  slackened]  [ARG1  demand]  .
-  The first analyst said that the Japanese , as well as the Chinese , bought copper earlier in the week in London , but that [ARG1  this purchasing]  has [ARGM-TMP  since]  [rel  slackened]  [ARGM-ADV  as the supply situation , at least over the long term , appears *-1 to have improved]  .
-  In fact , some auto executives suggest that [rel  slackened]  [ARG1  demand]  for their cars in the U.S. and Canada is a blessing ; otherwise they would n't be able *-1 to keep up with demand in the more profitable local market .
-  However , the executive noted that [rel  slackening]  [ARG1  demand]  for new mortgages depressed new loan originations to $ 1 billion *U* , 30 % below the same period last year .