Revenues for Hallmark — the second-largest private employer in Lawrence — declined by 2 percent in 2008, the Kansas City-based company announced Friday.

The company announced consolidated revenue of $4.3 billion for 2008. That represented a 2 percent decrease from 2007 continuing operations.

As a privately held company, Hallmark does not release information on earnings.

The greeting card company operates a manufacturing plant in Lawrence that employs about 700 people.

The decline in revenue largely was attributed to general weakness in the overall economy in the fourth quarter of 2008.

“Pressure on revenues will likely continue in 2009, requiring us to intensify our efforts to reshape our cost structure,” said Donald Hall Jr., president and chief executive officer of Hallmark. “At the same time, we will continue our focus and investment in consumer-inspired innovation to ensure that Hallmark emerges from the current economic downturn poised for growth.”