The National Debt Clock in New York's Times Square reflects debt levels in the United States.

The digital counter was first erected in 1989 to record debt of 2.7 trillion US dollars. But when that level surged past the 10-trillion-dollar point last month, the sign could no longer display the full amount. Two more zeros are set to be added, allowing the clock to record up to a quadrillion dollars of debt.

Douglas Durst, son of the clock's inventor, the late Seymour Durst, hopes to replace the Manhattan clock early next year. But for the moment,the counter's electronic dollar sign has been removed and replaced with a space for that much-needed extra digit.

(CCTV October 10, 2008)