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The [amount / volume] the world spent on arms has fallen for the first time since 1998. This is according to the annual review of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It said [globe / global] military spending in 2012 fell to $1.75 trillion, a drop of half a per cent from 2011. That figure is [roughly / rough] 2.5 per cent of the world's [PDG / GDP] , or about $250 for [all / every] person on Earth. The USA was the biggest spender, although its [share / part] fell below 40 per cent for the first time. The USA and its NATO [allies / alliances] spent one trillion dollars last year on their militaries. SIPRI said the decline is largely [dew / due] to a decrease in the amount spent on fighting wars, [particulars / particularly] with military action in Afghanistan [winding / binding] down.

SIPRI noted [that / this] while spending is falling in America and Europe, it is on the rise [everywhere / elsewhere] . SIPRI spokesman Sam Perlo-Freeman said: “We are seeing what may be the beginning of a [shaft / shift] in the balance [of / for] world military spending from the rich Western countries to [emerging / emerges] regions." He said budgets in China, Russia, the Middle East and North Africa were [in / on] the rise. China is now the world's second-biggest spender after its budget [risen / rose] by 7.8 per cent last year. However, this expenditure does not mean China is second in [teams / terms] of world military power. SIPRI said: "China in some [respects / respectively] is still well behind Europe, even though it now spends as much as Britain, France and Germany [combined / combed] ."