While Treasury began work on those contingency plans, there was fortunately never a need to put them in place.

That yield for the 30-year bond was the lowest since the Treasury began issuing them in 1977.

Treasury began publishing this series on January 2, 2004.

Bonds have registered their worst annual performance since the Treasury began selling the 30-year issue regularly in 1977.

Since the Treasury began selling this type of security to a lackluster reception seven years ago, the market has swelled.

That was the lowest yield on the 30-year bond since the Treasury began regular auctions in 1977.

The yield on the two-year note was 3.61 percent, the lowest since the Treasury began issuing these notes in 1972.

The Treasury has also begun selling a new four-week bill - $8 billion of them last week.

An administration official said the timing was important so that the Treasury could begin processing rebate checks.

The Treasury began regularly selling 30-year bonds in 1977.