1.   ...the recent sharp decline in bond prices.

2.   We saw a sharp decline in sales this month.

3.   The sharp decline was blamed on fears over the falling yen and over-valued stock prices on the Tokyo stock exchange.

4.   Seasonal variables were significant in each of the equations, generally showing a sharp decline in issuance every December.

5.   The measures are designed to halt the sharp decline in shark populations caused by overfishing in recent years.

6.   Growth had appeared to be stalling in the US, Germany had reported a sharp decline in activity and output remained weak in Japan.

7.   But the most worrying trend for newspapers is the sharp decline in young readers.

8.   The basic problems -- overaccumulation in relation to the labour supply and sharp decline in profitability -- preceded the oil crisis and would not have evaporated in its absence.

9.   The combined result was a sharp decline in the profit rate.

10.   Also weighing on the market Thursday was a sharp decline in the dollar.