South Korea narrowly avoided technical recession in the first quarter of 2009.

Apart from the manufacturing sector, the Australian economy avoided a technical recession.

Another quarter of contraction and thereby a technical recession is distinctly possible.

Treasury officials speak of their belief that a "brief, technical" recession in the British economy is now inevitable.

He also added prior to the announcement that a "technical" recession was possible.

Another technical recession at some point this year puts us firmly in depression.

That compared with a drop of 1.6 percent in the previous quarter, when Japan slipped back into a technical recession.

But even if we do have a technical recession we'll still be the fastest growing major economy in the EU.

"Clearly things have slowed a lot since earlier this year and there is a material chance of a technical recession."

The economy declined again in the third quarter putting the eurozone in a technical recession.