Expecting weaker profits at technology companies in particular, he would not be surprised if earnings fell by 10-15%.

ECONOMIST: Asian equities

Thinking that a downturn may be near, retail investor Hiromichi Kobayashi placed set-price orders below the market on Thursday morning on some issues, surprised to see them executed so quickly as prices fell.

WSJ: Japanese Stocks Fall Sharply

Nawab fell to the ground, holding his groin with both hands, entirely surprised, shocked, as if the man had slapped him for no reason.

NEWYORKER: Nawabdin Electrician

The unemployment rate, which has repeatedly surprised economists with the speed of its descent, did so again: it fell to 8.3%, a three-year low, from 8.5%.

ECONOMIST: Employment springs to life; will it fade again?

In real terms, you might be surprised to hear that there were only two years in Thatcher's time when spending fell at all.

BBC: Margaret Thatcher: The economy now and then