[jaredsohn]

The article doesn't mention a rate at all or show data prior to 2011, so the headline should really be comparing differences between 2012 and 2011 and not mention 'rate'.

I found Compete data for 2009-2010 (http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/201009/MOD-13263_ima...) and have copied it below.

Aug 2009 72.6%

Aug 2010 70.1% (-2.5%)

Aug 2011 68.3% (-1.8%)

Aug 2012 65.7% (-2.6%)

So, the percentage indicated in the headline isn't horribly inaccurate (Google's share also dropped by 2.5% between 2009 and 2010 and averages a 2.3% drop in market share per year over the past three years.)

[afy]

I agree that the first number shouldn't be a rate. x per y implies a rate though like 26 kilometres per hour or 16 miles per gallon.