8 percent and truck and vansales down 33

Italian media have reported that CAI has already picked AirFrance-KLM with a formal signing of the agreement expected thisweek, but both sources denied such a decision had been made. Berlusconi has spoken out in favour of an alliance withLufthansa, whose multi-hub model is also favoured by unions andinfluential northern Italian politicians who hope that couldsave jobs in Milan's airports. "The Northern League believes the ideal partner for CAIshould be Lufthansa, the only company able to guaranteeemployment, international services and two hubs Milan'sMalpensa and Rome's Fiumicino," the party, which is part ofBerlusconi's government, said in a statement. It said Umberto Bossi, leader of the Northern League, wouldmeet him on Jan 7.

Newspaper La Repubblica on Monday quoted Bossi as saying analliance with Air France-KLM would be an about-turn byBerlusconi and would anger northern Italy, where Bossi's powerbase lies. Air France-KLM has long been considered a logical partnerfor Alitalia, with which it shares commercial ties. Both belongto the Skyteam marketing alliance of airlines and the Frenchcarrier last year agreed to buy Alitalia before the dealcollapsed over union opposition. La Repubblica last week quoted CAI Chairman RobertoColaninno as saying that if Alitalia left Skyteam it would haveto pay a penalty of more than 200 million euros. Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti said in a weekend newspaperinterview that if Lufthansa was chosen the German carrier couldabsorb the penalty cost. Plans that affect airport hubs are controversial in Italy,and Alitalia's decision to cut back at Milan's Malpensa set offa backlash from politicians and workers in Italy's north. A Lufthansa spokeswoman denied media reports that CAI wouldhold a conference call with Lufthansa on Monday "There is no such conference call scheduled for today.

Butthat does not mean that there are no longer talks going onbetween CAI and Lufthansa," she said (Reporting by Milan newsroom; Editing by Greg Mahlich). DETROIT, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) said onMonday its U.S. auto sales fell 32.4 percent in December,including all of its brands, as the U.S auto industry sufferedpressure from the downturn in the U.S economy. Stocks Total sales fell to 139,067 vehicles in December from205,685 a year earlier, with sales of the main Ford, Mercuryand Lincoln brands falling 31.7 percent and sales of its Volvobrand down 47 percent Ford said on Friday it expected U.S. industry sales to bedown about 35 percent in December and expected its own sales tobe only slightly better than that Ford's 2008 sales fell 20.7 percent to 1,988,376 vehicles For the main Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brands, U.S. carsales were down 26.4 percent in December, crossover sales down31.8 percent, SUV sales down 51.8 percent, and truck and vansales down 33.9 percent. Ford said it estimated its market share was up 0.7percentage point in December to 14.6 percent from a yearearlier, marking a third consecutive increase for the firsttime since 1997.

(Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Andre Grenon) Stocks. At first glance the LSU Tigers get theoverwhelming nod for victory from the media, sportsanalyist and the non bias fan. Do the Penn State Nittany Lions, a "Big-Ten" team have thenecessary goods to compete with the LSU Tigers from the mighty "SEC." Well Vegas seems to thinks so the Lions are favored by two.Here's the breakdown: Quarterbacks:Tigers Jordan Jefferson, the truesophomore has started 13 games, has a career record of 9-4 and is 9-3 on the season. He has an impressive touchdown to interception ratio at 16-6 a 62.1 percent completion percentage and has thrown for 1964 yards on the season.Penn State's Daryll Clark, the senior Lions quarterback has been the starter for two seasons and has a record of 21-4. He has a touchdown to interception ratio at 23-10 a 61.9 percent completion percentage and has tossed for 2,787 yards on the season Daryll has passed for over 5500 yards in his career.