His sister-in-law, Rosanna, had died of stomach cancer three years previous: a protracted and, until the last weeks, steady decline.

The abbey went through a protracted decline and it never recovered the greatness of its heyday.

After several decades of prosperity, it entered a period of protracted political, military and economic decline.

Britain's protracted decline was dramatically epitomised by its political defeat during the Suez War of 1956.

There is hope here that the protracted decline of oil prices is coming to an end.

After rising last summer, the dollar is back in the doldrums and many experts are forecasting a protracted decline.

The protracted decline of long-term interest rates since the 80's has been a boon for an indebted government.

On the bright side, she added, there may not be much risk of a deep and protracted decline.

The dollar rose yesterday, bolstered by growing expectations that the major industrial countries will mobilize and take measures to stem the currency's protracted decline.

But by the mid-1960's, the company began a protracted decline that ended in 1985, when it moved to South Carolina.