Excessive exploitation led to a steep decrease in the number of brazilwood trees in the 18th century, causing the collapse of this economic activity.

Property crime in Woodbridge has decreased by 39 percent since 1991, a steeper decrease than the average 31 percent drop in the state's big suburbs.

After a steep decrease in the Alpine Newt population in the 1960s-70s, they have apparently recovered their numbers a little bit.

All year some mayoral aides have complained privately that Mr. Bratton was getting the credit the Mayor should have for the steep decrease in crime.

High-risk jurisdictions like New York have been unfairly burdened by the steep decrease in spending recently.

Last month, Morgan Stanley reported a steep decrease in its earnings because of some wrong bets on the direction of interest rates by its bond traders.

Job losses and steep decreases in incomes have hit local governments hard.

The resultant problems caused a steep decrease in the number of banks.

The agrarian crisis between 1888 and 1892 led to a steep decrease in wheat prices.

He said the city's quick analysis showed that mass transit had taken a major hit, "a pretty steep decrease all at once."