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By The Numbers

Pulling the ruble out of the rubble

Tony Wagner Dec 16, 2014
17 percent

Russia raised its interest rate in the middle of the night to 17 percent, as reported by the New York Times. The move came in response to a slip in the worth of the ruble by 10 percent on Monday. 

$5 million

That’s how much money the nonprofit Invisible Children made in just 48 hours after its video “Kony 2012” redefined viral. The windfall was soon followed by a wave of criticism over the film’s message and the organization’s finances that irreparably damaged the group’s reputation – and caused donations to drop. Two years later, Invisible Children has announced it will let most of its staff go, Buzzfeed reported, and raise $150,000 for a planned phase-out of its programs in 2015.

$60

That’s about where the cost of a barrel of oil currently rests. The record low prices have some wondering how upcoming announcements (expected this week) from the Federal Reserve will be affected.

0

The number of people who led practices outlined in the Senate’s CIA torture report who are still working in government. All are now retired or in the private sector. Mashable has a “where are they now?” feature.

50 full-time employees

Small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees are not required to provide health insurance. But if they do, many are having a tough time navigating exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, specifically in what is known as a SHOP exchange.

$2.44

The cost of a half-gallon of milk, one of many items featured in the New Yorker’s “gift guide for the boyfriend who has nothing.”

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