It blamed continuing austerity measures, weak confidence and tight credit conditions.

BBC: OECD cuts eurozone growth forecasts

Limitations on housing construction are weak job growth, tight credit standards for home buyers, and developer financing challenges.

FORBES: Forecast for the Wood Products Industry, 2013

"Global economic conditions are improving but remain fragile, " he said, pointing to weak labor markets, tight credit, and depressed consumer spending.

FORBES: Detroit

Unless repossession forces a sale, homeowners prefer to sit tight when markets are weak.

ECONOMIST: America's housing market

And weak coalition politics undermine hopes of a tight fiscal policy or of structural economic reforms that would maintain competitiveness as costs rise.

ECONOMIST: Eastern Europe's economies

The research firm now sees PC units up 5% in 2012, down from a previous forecast of 10.1%, reflecting not only the weak economy but also the impact of tight disk-drive supply due to the floods in Thailand.

FORBES: Gartner Cuts 2012 Chip Growth View To 2.2% From 4.6%

Consumer spending seems unsustainably strong given weak income growth, shrunken wealth, and tight-fisted banks.

ECONOMIST: The economy

Third quarter is usually the seasonally weak month but crop nutrient prices remained firm during the summer months because of a tight global supply and strong restocking demand in the northern hemisphere.

FORBES: Pick Up This Fertilizer Maker While Shares Are Cheap