It was reminiscent of something Freud said at a particularly bleak period in his life.

"We're in a bleak period on the bases," a senior Western diplomat said.

That was in some ways 42d Street's bleakest period of all.

After such a bleak period, the number of young children would suddenly expand, creating a new crisis.

He was utterly delightful and provided everyone with a sense of joy during a rather bleak period in our lives.

"But I think we are in for a very bleak political period."

Living there in banishment was the bleakest period of my life.

Looking back on the long bleak period, he said: "I sat it out.

"It is probably the bleakest period in my memory," he said the other day.

At best, supported by the economic factors you mentioned, it is recovering from a pretty bleak period.