Business

There are some things you just can't live without. Gas. Electricity. Bacon. No matter the price, you're gonna buy it. That's why many countries have strategic reserves of basic necessities. The reserves guarantee a temporary supply of the things people can't live without, and can serve as a short-term buffer against price spikes.

Different countries have different things they can't live with out. Here are a few of our favorite strategic reserves:

Pork

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

NPR's business news begins with more fallout from the financial crisis.

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Americans' personal income grew by just 0.1 percent in August from July and consumer spending would have been basically flat as well if it hadn't been for higher gasoline prices, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported this morning.