June 25, 2000

Nancy Wartik article on men and depression; some mental health experts are beginning to question whether they have given men short shrift in treatment of depression, which is twice as common among women as men but seems to take greater toll on men; some question whether depression should be approached differently in men and women, suggesting men manifest new universe of symptoms; drawing; photo (M)

Action in Albany From gun control to hate-crime legislation, a look at what the New York Legislature accomplished in its 223rd session, the most productive in recent memory. PAGE 32

Bargains are fewer on Web as Internet retailers raise prices in effort to calm their investors; merchants in cyberspace are encouraged to raise prices because customers so far have shown willingness to pay more, providing they get service to match; even those cyberspace retailers whose product prices have not jumped are raising costs indirectly by increasing shipping and handling fees or reducing special offers; some e-merchants say they are resisting pressure to raise prices; must of them are now competing on more realistic playing field, fact that delights brick-and-mortar merchants whose capital structures never allowed them to support below-market prices and associated losses; chart (M)

Joys and perils of riding in concept cars, which are designed to be seen and not necessarily driven, noted; photos (M)

Manhattan retailers continue to offer dressing rooms that are inconveniently located, cleaned infrequently, tiny and poorly lit, despite important role rooms play in buying decisions; photos (M)