Surely a drop in output is required?
A drop in output by utilities offset factory growth.
A manufacturing survey in the United States also showed a surprise drop in output.
As in 1931 and 2008, a grave financial crisis may cause a large drop in output.
"Even Germany looks to have fallen into a renewed decline, though only a very modest drop in output is signalled.
Both Tunisia and Egypt experienced recessions in 2011 after a drop in output and tourism following last year's revolutions.
With a drop in output of 4.8% and a time of six years to recovery, its severity score is 10.8.
One of the few communist countries to liberalise its economy without a big drop in output was China.
10.23am BST EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, says the drop in output in May shows the challenges that factories still face, including the weak state of the euro economy:.
The big drop in output in September and the increase in October were heavily influenced by the hurricanes and the strike at Boeing.
However, the all-important manufacturing sector suffered a drop in output during April, dealing a blow to the chancellor, George Osborne.
