AMERICAN NOTES: Counterfeit Inflation

It should come as no surprise that inflation has also hit those who manufacture phony money. In 1966 the average take after passing a counterfeit bill was $14.30. Now the counterfeiters are making more bills of larger denominations. The average amount ripped off last year reached $23.18, a jump of 62%. The Consumer Price Index rise since 1966 was almost exactly the same. Because big bills do not mean so much these days, a Secret Service counterfeiting specialist concedes, "you can change a $100 bill more easily now." Trouble is, they buy less—just like real dollars.

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