41.   The German economy shrank in the first quarter, leaving gross domestic product barely above year-ago levels, the Economics Ministry said.

42.   The German government will report fourth-quarter gross domestic product Thursday, having already said the economy probably shrank during the period.

43.   The North Korean economy has shrunk for five consecutive years because of its inefficient economic policy and the collapse of its former trading partners in eastern Europe.

44.   The rise in third-quarter GDP was the second straight increase after four quarters in which the economy shrank.

45.   The Thai economy is still shrinking, but Clinton administration officials said the worst appeared to be over.

46.   There are few signs that Southeast Asia is improving, and recent figures indicate that some economies are shrinking even more than expected.

47.   Unless Congress acts soon, the budget outlook may deteriorate even more as the economy shrinks, she said.

48.   With most of its economies shrinking, unemployment hitting new highs and recovery perhaps several years away, who would?

49.   Politics is a mess, reforms are sluggish, the economy is still shrinking, and another cold winter is about to settle in over Ukraine.

50.   After months of watching their economy shrink, Turks are grateful to their national basketball team for the chance to walk tall again.