By the 1990s, the area had entered a period of modest decline.

They had brought a modest decline in the face of extreme boom conditions, but no collapse.

Although the rise was only 2,000, analysts had been expecting a modest decline.

I think people will be surprised at how modest the decline is in the fourth quarter.

Without similar action abroad, there is a modest decline in employment and production.

"It generally means there has been a modest decline in the financial condition of a company."

Party members say a modest decline is the inevitable consequence of being in national government for the first time.

The price of a new home posted a modest decline in July.

Analysts are expecting a modest decline in today's report from last month's confidence index level of 101.4.

But the modest decline masked a conviction among market participants that the dollar must go lower.