Six Month Contraction of Economy Greater than any Prior Six Months during Post WWII Recession

I saw the news from the Commerce Department today that the US economy contracted at a 6.1% annual rate during the first quarter of this year following a 6.3% loss in GDP during the fourth quarter of 2008.  A quick glance at the CRS report on recessions indicates that no post WWII recession had two quarters of consecutive reductions in GDP in the 6+% range.  This is a much steeper recession than anything in the past.