1.   Over the past several years, Russian metallurgy companies have suffered from a continual decline in steel prices caused by overproduction.

2.   Paul Krugman, a professor at Princeton University, said a continual decline in business investments and sluggish consumer demand rule out a speedy recovery.

3.   A continual decline in prices pushes income down and hampers economic activity.

4.   A continual decline in prices pushes income down and stifles consumer spending, as people put off purchases with the expectation things will be cheaper in the future.

5.   It added that the decision was timely given the continual decline in the world price of crude oil.

6.   Another positive factor for zinc, also used to make brass, bronze and alloys, is the continual decline in market stocks over the past few months.