Update: The conspiracy to kill the U.S. savings bond

Unfortunately, it is time to provide an update on my three year old rant about the death spiral of the U.S. savings bond.

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury announced that as of January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds will no longer be sold at financial institutions. Electronic savings bonds will be continue to be available at treasurydirect.gov ($5000 per individual per year), but annual contribution levels will basically be halved.

For now, there is still a loophole that will allow purchases of paper I bonds: Income tax returns can be used to purchase I bonds using IRS Form 8888. Is anyone willing to offer odds on how long it will take for the Treasury to make this purchase option disappear too? :(