That compared with analyst forecasts of a 0.9pc fall in sales.

Forecasts for this year are not optimistic either. They point to a further fall in sales of new cars.

They had been depressed by a fall in sales of both construction and industrial machinery.

Farmers who suffer unavoidable financial problems due to a fall in sales go out of business.

This leads to a fall in sales and profits.

But the deepening slump meant a first-time fall in sales.

De Beers rejected suspicions that it had exaggerated the expected fall in sales this year.

The Bookseller has reported a 10% fall in sales of chick-lit titles.

The fall in sales is seen by some as part of a backlash against 'the big, impersonal, alien shopping experience'.

One campaign is said to have caused a major fall in sales of Prozac, causing considerable commercial damage to the company.

The European Union cannot subsidise each sector of production hit by a fall in sales.

There was a big fall in sales.

In the first three and a half months, Sir David managed to stop the fall in sales.

This stands in contrast to most consumer specialised magazine titles which have seen a fall in sales.

Although volume fell in sales to foreign customers, that factor was offset by higher prices and the strength of European currencies.

So far, Lenovo has managed to avoid the steep fall in sales that have battered some computer companies after a merger.

Julia Finch: the electrical retailer reported a 7% fall in sales across Europe.

The company viewed this fall in sales seriously, and was also aware of a growing disaffection amongst the sales staff.

When its Intellivision game fell in sales, Mattel began to retrench the entire company.

The record 4.5 percent fall in sales followed a sizable 3 percent sales increase in December.

In mid-2009, 'adverse market and industry conditions' were blamed for falls in sales and operating losses.

Its sales were hit by a downturn at its British Shoe division, which reported a 10.9 percent fall in sales.

Instead of buying a car every second year the motorist can make his purchase every third year so creating a considerable fall in sales.

The fall in sales volume has been particularly severe in France, and to a lesser extent in certain neighbouring markets.

Irish producers in fact experienced a 10 % fall in sales of their products after the introduction of the minimum import price.