The phrase "a contraction in output" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing economic performance, production levels, or any situation where a decrease in output is being described.
Example: "The recent economic downturn has led to a contraction in output across various industries."
Alternatives: "a decrease in output" or "a reduction in output".
"Such a contraction in output in the first half of 2013 would probably be judged to be a recession," the report said.
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, severe drought in 2000, following the coldest winter in decades, contributed to a contraction in output of 3.8 percent, with cereal production in particular declining sharply for the second year in a row.
The economic definition of recession is, of course, a contraction in national output.
The eurozone's economic woes persisted in the third quarter as Italy's longest recession continued and a contraction in French output dragged growth down to 0.1%.
An overheated property market in the country has prompted a contraction in construction output while the manufacturing sector has slumped as exports slumped.
Although not all the news was good — the survey indicated a contraction in French output during the month — the results were the second recent set of promising signals.
1.16pm GMT Summary On the eurozone GDP figures, my colleague Phillip Inman writes: The eurozone's economic woes persisted in the third quarter as Italy's longest recession continued and a contraction in French output dragged growth down to 0.1%.
The flow of stimulus money into the economy is being hampered by labour shortages in the building industry; public-works spending even fell slightly in the second quarter after a tax increase, contributing to a contraction in economic output.
In recent days several analysts have warned that the global economy could suffer a repeat of the 2008 crash if the knock-on effects of a contraction in Chinese output pushes down commodity prices further and sparks panic selling on stock and bond markets.
Several analysts have warned in recent days that the global economy could suffer a repeat of the 2008 crash if the knock-on effects of a contraction in Chinese output pushes down commodity prices further and prompts panic selling on stock and bond markets.
For example, the 1983 recession, which was related to the "El Niño" phenomenon and a balance of payments crisis, produced a large contraction in output that did not recover until 1985.
