1.   There was a far less marked drop in overseas membership.

2.   He told Boston business leaders he saw a marked drop in hostility to China during his trip.

3.   The advance, the strongest in five quarters, was led by consumer spending that more than offset a marked drop in business investment.

4.   There has been a marked drop in financing levels for such housing under Pataki statewide.

5.   It is not clear why there has been such a marked drop in executions.

6.   On Wednesday, ferry operators in Port Klang reported a marked drop in arrivals from Indonesia, the Star daily said.

7.   A marked drop of the unemployment rate, which would be potentially inflationary, could support the dollar by refueling hopes for a Fed rate rise.

8.   Chinese economists have blamed the slowdown on the global downturn, with a marked drop in the growth of exports last year.

9.   Despite the blood-letting, the Israeli army reported a marked drop in the number of armed incidents initiated by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.