Mr. Malone is said to be seeking favorable prices for long-term agreements that could run 10 years or more.

Her parents do not book with their daughter but merely consult her, she said, and then go out seeking good prices.

Increased depreciation expenses can be cited by phone companies to seek higher prices, or to prevent rate cuts.

Government officials say private investors are seeking unreasonably low prices on savings and loans.

This group expects that economic recovery will prompt companies to seek higher prices rather than greater market share.

Just what health plans pay hospitals is hard to know, but Mass General appears to be among the most aggressive here in seeking higher prices.

That caused refiners to seek higher prices for products like gasoline.

For more than two months after the season ended, teams and agents were seeking exorbitant prices for their players.

Given that experience, some analysts said, the kingdom now has little incentive to seek lower prices.

Restaurant owners began re-evaluating their expenses and seeking lower prices from suppliers.