The figure was below market forecasts and perilously close to dipping below the 50 line that would signal a contraction in industrial activity.

这一数字低于市场预期而且已经危险地接近于标志着工业制造紧缩的50红线以下。

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The second figure represents the pressure of the heart as it expands and fills with blood, while waiting for the next contraction.

第二个数字代表了心脏的压力，因为它的扩展和血液填充，而等待下一次收缩。

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Core Retail Sales figures which do not include automobiles came out even worse with a contraction figure of 0.5% for the same period.

FORBES: Dismal Home Sales Sap Greenback

An index above 50 shows growth in manufacturing, while a figure below 50 implies a contraction.

BBC: US manufacturing hints at recovery

Figure 2 shows unit demand growth and contraction trends for various HDD applications from 2008 projected through 2012.

FORBES: A Pause Before Future HDD Growth?