Since Hamas took power and aid money plunged, he said, his business has plummeted.

He said that many minority-owned contractors had seen their business plummet since the Supreme Court struck down a city program in Richmond.

Edward Hilla, the sales and marketing manager for the seaport, estimates that business plummeted by as much as 80 percent immediately after the attacks.

Retail and food sales at the top 25 airports were projected to account for more than $2.3 billion this year, before business plummeted.

Crime escalated, residents fled, and business plummeted.

Union officials say business is plummeting.

"The Foreigner" played to mostly sold-out houses during its previews, but once the play opened to tepid reviews, business plummeted.

Yet she gambled on a new Web site aimed at women, an area of online business whose popularity has plummeted in the United States.

Many vendors say that business has plummeted fast since the glory days of the 1980's and early 1990's.

By the end of the month, business at the 19-room Ocean Breeze had plummeted by 75 percent from last summer.