That was 0.5 percent less than in the quarter the year before and the fifth straight decline.

It was the third straight decline for the company.

It isn't as if the economy is going down in a straight decline.

These fell 1.3 percent last month, the 13th straight decline, to the lowest overall level since December 1988.

For all of 2001, retail sales slipped 2.2 percent, the fifth straight annual decline.

On the other hand, finance charges fell 1.9 percent, the fifth straight decline.

But automobile finance charges fell 1.4 percent, their third straight decline.

Last year, corporate profits fell 4.6 percent, their third straight annual decline.

It was the third straight weekly decline in M-2.

Producer prices declined by 0.4 percent in August, the third straight monthly decline.