On Friday, the government reported that corporate investment fell at an annual rate of 13.6 percent in the second quarter.

Home building and other residential investment fell even more quickly than the government said earlier - at an annual pace of 9.8 percent.

But it said investment would fall this year for the first time and not regain its peak until 2015.

He said an anticipated investment from a Texas venture capital company had fallen through.

Direct foreign investment in Israel has been falling since he took office.

However, investment in energy efficiency has fallen by 28 per cent over the last two years.

Foreign direct investment fell last year to $319 million, from $1.8 billion in early 2001.

Foreign direct investment also fell for the second straight month in December.

Foreign investment fell to a seven-year low last year, at $600 million.

But how are we to believe this when overall investments have fallen so low?