But small businesses have been hit hard by the recession and now the difficulty in getting loans.

VOA: special.2009.12.18

Economies in central and eastern Europe have been hit hard by the worldwide credit crisis and less demand for exports in western Europe.

VOA: special.2009.03.06

Last December, as the recession hit hard, Americans held on to their money.

VOA: special.2009.12.21

Economies that depend on exports for growth have been hit hard.

VOA: special.2009.01.16

Diarrhea is already on the rise. Byrs says Ghana also has been hit hard by what she calls,the deluge.

VOA: standard.2009.09.05

And the economy has been hit hard by the fall in the price of diamonds which make up one-third of its gross domestic product.

VOA: standard.2009.10.19

Life seems to be back to normal. However,in the small coastal communities hit hard by the tsunami, signs of devastation and loss are everywhere.

VOA: standard.2009.10.05

American accusations that its allies are not pulling their weight hit hard in France.

VOA: standard.2009.09.28

Leone was hit hard by the tsunami. Last Tuesday, the usually peaceful ocean surged into a mountain of water that swept through the scenic seaside village, on the southwest side of the main island.

VOA: standard.2009.10.04

I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed fist as hard as I could.

VOA: special.2010.07.17

The recession has hit especially hard in California, home of the world's eighth largest economy and one out of eight Americans.

VOA: special.2009.07.31

In terms of unemployment, the troubles of the Detroit auto industry have hit Michigan in the Midwest especially hard.

VOA: special.2009.05.08

Betty Bonney sings about the way DiMaggio hit the ball very,very hard -- how he jolted it.

VOA: special.2011.04.04

he said, "hit it good and hard, so we will all go to the bottom."

VOA: special.2010.06.17

The economic downturn has hit young adults especially hard.

VOA: special.2009.11.19

Transport in the South was especially hard hit.

VOA: special.2010.01.14

"I came back the next day and I put little parachutes for the Kaugummi and the Schokoladen , so they could see it and so it wouldn't hit them hard in the head, slow it down.

VOA: special.2011.08.11

"We have been hit really hard by the recession and I think that probably has got a lot to do with it."

VOA: standard.2010.05.04

Workers are clearing rubble in the hard-hit coastal neighborhoods and power and telecommunications have been restored in most parts of American Samoa.

VOA: standard.2009.10.06

Panico says in most of the hard hit communities, life is largely back to normal.

VOA: standard.2009.12.26

President Obama told people in the nation's largest state, which has been hit especially hard by the economic crisis, that "there will be brighter days ahead."

VOA: standard.2009.03.20

Tuesday's earthquake hit Haiti hard, with extensive damage and many casualties.

VOA: standard.2010.01.13

The property company has been hard hit by the global financial and real estate crises, putting on hold many of the grandiose projects for which Dubai has gained fame.

VOA: standard.2009.11.30

He says is not good and will hit his income hard.

VOA: standard.2010.04.12

Manufacturing and construction were particularly hard hit.

VOA: standard.2009.04.03