21.   It was the first back-to-back decline this year in the Cahners Business Confidence Index.

22.   It was the first decline after two months of increases.

23.   It was the first decline in short interest since the period ending in mid-July.

24.   It was the first monthly decline in bus sales in six months.

25.   It was the first such decline in almost three years.

26.   It was the first decline in five years.

27.   It was the first decline in nine years, Pearl Meyer said.

28.   It was the first decline in seven months as pre-Christmas shipments of presents and decorations to retailers started to taper off.

29.   It was the first profit decline in three years.