A run on the sperm bank, and a jump in late payments
Good day for seed money; Bad day for payback
GOOD DAY FOR: Seed money, as sperm banks and fertility clinics are reporting a sharp uptick in calls from interested sperm and egg donors since the recession hit. Donations can be fairly lucrative—Oregon Health & Science University, for example, pays $100 per sperm deposit, up to twice a week, and $5,000 per egg—but it’s nice work if you can get it: the criteria for being accepted by a donor is strict, and most interested people are turned away. (USA Today)
BAD DAY FOR: Payback, as U.S. credit card and consumer loan delinquencies hit record highs in the first quarter, pushed up by rising unemployment and the deflating housing market, the American Bankers Association said. A record 6.60 percent of all credit card debt was more than 30 days past due in the January to March quarter, and consumer loan delinquencies hit 3.23 percent. The ABA expects the number to get worse in the next year. (Reuters)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published