Between the third quarters of 1998 and 1999, aggregate corporate profits of manufacturers slid more than 5 percent, to $163.1 billion.

With new products scarce, Pfizer's profits are sliding and its stock price is languishing near an eight-year low.

Insurance companies are asking for higher payments as corporate profits are sliding.

In the April-June period alone, net profits slid 98 percent.

It represented a reversal from 1994, when profit slid 41 percent.

National Westminster Bank said its pretax profits slid 48 percent in the first half of the year, to $:251 million ($401 million).

Boise's profits slid to $101.5 million last year, from $104.3 million a year earlier.

Worse, profits from some 860 stores slid by more than half last year, to $257.4 million.

Pre-tax profits after exceptional items slid by 5% to £902m.

Pilkington's main business of flat and safety glass saw profits slide 27% to £38.3m with Europe hardest hit.