But they’re safe: Treasury bills pay zero interest for first time

For the next four weeks, the U.S. government is getting the same deal as some car buyers: zero-percent financing.

The government auctioned $32 billion in four-week T-bills at 0% interest Tuesday, the lowest auction rate ever.

The credit crisis has investors so worried, they simply want the government's guarantee of safety even if they don't earn any interest. …