It is depressing that a poll carried out by the Health Protection Agency found that a quarter of people wrongly believe antibiotics are effective against most coughs and colds.

BBC: Action on antibiotics

The Northern Ireland secretary has said it is depressing that some young people involved in disorder earlier this year, were not born at start of the peace process in the 1990s.

BBC: Theresa Villiers

Mr Davies said: "It is truly depressing that 2005 closes with yet more black jobs news for mid Wales as Floform, Welshpool's biggest manufacturing business, notifies staff that up to 60 jobs are to go".

BBC: Inside the Floform plant (library pictures)

And human nature being what it is, there is a depressing default supposition that most politicians are in it for selfish reasons.

FORBES: The Mitt Romney You Don't Know (Yet)

It is depressing to think that life is purposeless and that evolution has no higher destination.

ECONOMIST: Evolution

The problem with this policy, however, is that it is depressing economic growth, and requires a great deal of financing from the IMF.

FORBES: G20: Austerity or Prosperity?

The wonder of "We Can Be Strong" is that it isn't nearly as depressing as its lyric.

NPR: A Rugged Ode to Checking Out

At the more dubious end of the scale is NAV again, with an index of 2.5 years, pretty depressing given that it would take today's buyer of the units at least six years to recover the purchase price (assuming the monthly distribution stays constant).

FORBES: Out of Energy

It is a depressing state of affairs when about two-thirds of our fellow citizens are caught in an economic trap that is wrecking their lives financially and emotionally.

CNN: Carville: What if the rich lost 40% of their wealth?