A bar chart showing year-over-year growth in net income from continuing operations for all Standard & Poor's 500 firms from 1997 through first quarter 2002. In 1997, year-over-year growth was 15.1 percent in first quarter, 10.7 percent in second quarter, 12.9 percent in third quarter, and 7.9 percent in fourth quarter. In 1998, year-over-year growth was 3.6 percent in first quarter, 3.5 percent in second quarter, minus 1.8 percent in third quarter, and 4.8 percent in fourth quarter. In 1999, year-over-year growth was 10.6 percent in first quarter, 16.2 percent in second quarter, 21.3 percent in third quarter, and 22.3 percent in fourth quarter. In 2000, year-over-year growth was 20.4 percent in first quarter, 19.8 percent in second quarter, 17.5 percent in third quarter, and 5.2 percent in fourth quarter. In 2001, year-over-year growth was minus 7.4 percent in first quarter, minus 19.2 percent in second quarter, minus 21.6 percent in third quarter, and minus 24.2 percent in fourth quarter. In 2002, year-over-year growth was minus 7.6 percent in first quarter.