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Hard Numbers: Russia off ransomware Zoom, Venezuela burns cash, Chinese soy sauce inflation, Americans resign
30: Russia was not invited to a 30-country virtual meeting led by the US on fighting ransomware. Washington maintains that while the Kremlin doesn't necessarily oversee the activities of Russia-based hackers directly, it turns a blind eye to their activities so long as they don't attack Russian interests.
40 million: Venezuela's central bank is spending $40 million per week to shore up the recently-minted new bolivar, which lopped six zeros off the denomination of the old one as a result of hyperinflation. The new bolivar's exchange rate with the US dollar has dropped from 5.2 to 4.1 since the October 1 launch.
7: The maker of the top-selling brand of soy sauce in China, which by far consumes the most of the condiment in the world, says it'll increase the prices of all its products by seven percent later this month. The company's margins have taken a hit from the rising cost of almost everything these days, especially power.
4.3 million: About 4.3 million Americans — nearly 3 percent of the US workforce — quit their jobs in August, the highest monthly number in over 20 years. Researchers aren't sure what prompted the mass drop-off, but workers' greater bargaining power amid a resurgent economy, persistent shortages of child care, and potential fears about the delta wave all seem to be part of the equation.