National Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits

[Mike Ellis]

How fortunate we are that, as we have been assured in this very forum, these "really big numbers" don't mean anything.

The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.

Ananova - Debt clock runs out of digits

Debt clock runs out of digits

The National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits to record the US government's spiralling debts.

The digital counter marks the national debt level, but when that passed the $10 trillion point last month, the sign could not display the full amount.

The board was erected to highlight the $2.7 trillion level of debt in 1989, reports the BBC.

The clock's owners say two more zeros will be added, allowing the clock to record a quadrillion dollars of debt.

Douglas Durst, son of the late Seymour Durst - the clock's inventor - hopes to replace the Manhattan clock with its lengthier replacement early next year.

For the time being, the Times Square counter's electronic dollar sign has been replaced with the extra digit required.

Some economists believe the $700bn bail-out plan for ailing US financial institutions could send the national debt level to $11 trillion.