I’m currently trying to get a better understanding of inflation, money markets, debts and all that stuff by reading the excellent book Pricing Money by J. D. A. Wiseman. Although it was written two decades ago, I suppose all the basic information should still be valid.
This particular explanation made me laugh:
The prices of USTs [US Treasuries] are quoted in thirty-secondths rather than in decimal. And hence a price of 98–28 means 98 28⁄32 = 98.875. A ‘+’ indicates half a 1⁄32, so 99–24+ is 99 + 24⁄32 + 1⁄64 = 99.765625. The US is the only country still quoting the price of its debt in these fractions.
As a non-native speaker I almost twist my tongue trying to pronounce “thirty-secondths”.
I’m hoping there are more gems like this in the book.