But the report said the pace of this decline eased for the second consecutive month.
But the latest moves come as new figures show Spanish industrial production fell for the second consecutive month in October.
The U.S. trade deficit, driven by falling crude imports, fell in March for the second consecutive month, the Commerce Department said.
Over in China, official PMI readings appear to have stabilized, rising for the second consecutive month to 51.2 (from 50.9) in September.
FORBES: Manufacturing In China, U.S. Provides Glimmer Of Hope For Europe
Food prices did rise for a second consecutive month, this time 0.5%, but are still just 2.4% over their levels a year ago.
FORBES: Drought Devastates Farmers, But Coke And Corn Flakes Won't Spike
Confidence in the eurozone economy fell in April for a second consecutive month, increasing the likelihood of a cut in interest rates later this week.
Retail performed well as incomes rose for the second consecutive month.
It was also the second consecutive month in which the work-force grew, and the second month since last July in which the civilian labor force participation rate increased.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the U.S. economy suffered its second consecutive month of falling prices, or deflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI).
FORBES: U.S. Economy In Second Month Of Deflation Pressures Bernanke On QE
The largest wireless carrier in the world took the market by surprise for the second consecutive month, announcing the addition of a staggering 7.05 million net 3G subscribers in January.
FORBES: China Mobile's Surge In 3G Additions Shows That Life Goes On Without Apple
In May, for the second consecutive month, there were around 95, 000 new loans for house purchase, well down on a year before, but up from the low of 77, 000 in November.
The 10- and 20-city composites gained 8.6% and 9.3% on a year-over-year basis, with every metropolitan area clocking in a second consecutive month of positive growth for the first time since early 2005.
FORBES: Home Prices Growing At Pre-Bubble Rates On Bernanke Boost, But Big Shadow Inventory Lurks
In notable economic news this week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that consumer prices was unchanged for the second consecutive month in January due to falling gasoline prices and stable food prices.
But rates were frozen for the second consecutive month at 4.75% almost a fortnight ago, having climbed from 3.5% in November last year - an indication the MPC was confident the rises were having the desired effect of cooling house prices and curbing high consumer borrowing.
Home prices have risen for a second consecutive month for the first time since the summer of 2010, but much of this is a consequence of the falling percentage of distressed sales, while prices are still more than 31% of their peaks and may take years to recover.
FORBES: What Housing Recovery? Distressed Sales Still High, Shadow Inventory Massive
As markets digest the positive surprise provided by the ADP employment numbers, which showed that 217, 000 private sector jobs were added to the economy ahead of the all-important non-farm payroll report by the Labor Department on Friday, planned layoffs reached an 11-month high on February, with the number increasing for a second consecutive month, giving investors reasons to be concerned.
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