Some private economists say the fall could even top 20 percent.

He left politics in 1995 and worked as a private economist.

Many private economists say the real figure is far higher.

Most private economists think it will be at least $104 billion.

Private economists were less enthusiastic than the Administration about today's report.

Administration officials and private economists called the $2.2 billion increase a serious disappointment.

They are also similar to predictions by some private economists.

The consensus of private economists was that the figure would be less than 5 percent.

It was a judgment reached weeks, if not months, ago by most private economists.

Most private economists here believe that figure is highly conservative.