Just 46 percent graduated from high school or received an equivalency degree, compared with 39 percent of the controls.

Some 72 percent of eighth grade students met or exceeded the state standard, compared with a county average of 70 percent.

But since the early '70's, the improvements have been small: 1 percent annually compared with nearly 2 percent or more in many earlier years.

The 6 percent who reported lower export orders compares with 5 percent in January.

Over all, 40 percent of the state's eighth graders met or exceeded state standards, compared with 38 percent in 1999.

Seventy percent of fourth graders attained or exceeded the basic level, compared with 66 percent in 2001.

But how does this 58 percent compare with that of men in the same study?

For mathematics, 59.2 percent met or exceeded the competency standards, compared with 68 percent statewide.

This pressure may explain why only 2 percent of the country's elderly live in nursing homes or similar institutions, compared with 5 percent in America.

The report found that 47 percent of whites own computers, compared with 19 percent of blacks.