1.   The office for national statistics blamed the drop on the foot and mouth outbreak.

2.   But in public filings, the company blamed a drop in warranty income for thinner gross margins last year.

3.   Company officials blamed a drop in advertising and publishing revenue along with a weak peso for the decline.

4.   Edmund G. Woods Jr. blamed the drop on rising interest rates and warned that future sales may be dampened.

5.   Hattori blamed the drop in imports to tougher licencing controls, curbs on government spending and the high tariff barriers against imports.

6.   In recent years, Ivanisevic has blamed his drop in play on the battles he has had with himself on the court.

7.   It blamed the drop on softer sales of both hard and soft goods because of fewer price cuts.

8.   It blamed a drop in chip prices and slower sales growth of its cellular phones, which also use Motorola chips.

9.   Jiro Hokka of Yamaichi Securities blamed the drop in Tokyo stocks solely on the New York plunge.

10.   Lamoreaux blames the drop on a mass exit by momentum investors after the company reported that revenues for one of its business units fell short of expectations.