The benchmark interest rate in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 4.25 percent. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Volcker Shock was a period of historically high interest rates precipitated by Federal Reserve Chairperson Paul Volcker's decision to raise the central bank's key interest rate, the Fed funds effective rate, during the first three years of his term. Volcker was appointed chairperson of the Fed in August 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, as replacement for William Miller, who Carter had made his treasury secretary. Volcker was one of the most hawkish (supportive of tighter monetary policy to stem inflation) members of the Federal Reserve's committee, and quickly set about changing the course of monetary policy in the U.S. in order to quell inflation. The Volcker Shock is remembered for bringing an end to over a decade of high inflation in the United States, prompting a deep recession and high unemployment, and for spurring on debt defaults among developing countries in Latin America who had borrowed in U.S. dollars.

Monetary tightening and the recessions of the early '80s

Beginning in October 1979, Volcker's Fed tightened monetary policy by raising interest rates. This decision had the effect of depressing demand and slowing down the U.S. economy, as credit became more expensive for households and businesses. The Fed funds rate, the key overnight rate at which banks lend their excess reserves to each other, rose as high as 17.6 percent in early 1980. The rate was allowed to fall back below 10 percent following this first peak, however, due to worries that inflation was not falling fast enough, a second cycle of monetary tightening was embarked upon starting in August of 1980. The rate would reach its all-time peak in June of 1981, at 19.1 percent. The second recession sparked by these hikes was far deeper than the 1980 recession, with unemployment peaking at 10.8 percent in December 1980, the highest level since The Great Depression. This recession would drive inflation to a low point during Volcker's terms of 2.5 percent in August 1983.

The legacy of the Volcker Shock

By the end of Volcker's terms as Fed Chair, inflation was at a manageable rate of around four percent, while unemployment had fallen under six percent, as the economy grew and business confidence returned. While supporters of Volcker's actions point to these numbers as proof of the efficacy of his actions, critics have claimed that there were less harmful ways that inflation could have been brought under control. The recessions of the early 1980s are cited as accelerating deindustrialization in the U.S., as manufacturing jobs lost in 'rust belt' states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania never returned during the years of recovery. The Volcker Shock was also a driving factor behind the Latin American debt crises of the 1980s, as governments in the region defaulted on debts which they had incurred in U.S. dollars. Debates about the validity of using interest rate hikes to get inflation under control have recently re-emerged due to the inflationary pressures facing the U.S. following the Coronavirus pandemic and the Federal Reserve's subsequent decision to embark on a course of monetary tightening.

Graph and download economic data for Bank Prime Loan Rate Changes: Historical Dates of Changes and Rates (PRIME) from 1955-08-04 to 2024-12-20 about prime, loans, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Bank Lending Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 7.50 percent in June. This dataset provides - United States Average Monthly Prime Lending Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Inflation, consumer prices for the United States (FPCPITOTLZGUSA) from 1960 to 2024 about consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Key information about Japan Real Effective Exchange Rate

• Japan Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER: 2005=100: Month Avg: Japan) was 55.5 in Jan 2025, compared with the number of 56.0 in the previous month.
• Japan Real Effective Exchange Rate data is updated monthly and averaged 151.4 from Jan 1970 to Jan 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 151.4 in Apr 1995 and a record low of 53.3 in Jul 2024.

CEIC generates Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2005=100. Bank of Japan provides Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2020=100. CPI is used as a deflator. An increase in REER indicates reduced competitiveness for the reporting economy.


Related information about Japan Real Effective Exchange Rate

• In the latest reports, Japan Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: TIBOR: Japanese Yen: 3 Months was reported at 0.8 % pa in Jan 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Japan: Complementary Deposit Facility Interest Rate) was set at -0.1 % pa in Jun 2023.
• Japan Exchange Rate against USD averaged 141.4 (USD/JPY) in Jun 2023.

Key information about Singapore Exchange Rate against USD

• Singapore Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.339 (USD/SGD) in May 2023, compared with 1.332 USD/SGD in the previous month.
• Singapore Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to May 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 3.061 in Nov 1971 and a record low of 1.209 in Aug 2011.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 1981 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Singapore Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Singapore SIBOR: SGD: Month End: 3 Months was reported at 4.089 % pa in May 2023.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Securities: Yield: Month End: 10 Years) was reported at 2.850 % pa in May 2023.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month Avg: Singapore: Overnight Rate) was set at 3.724 % pa in May 2023.

Key information about Switzerland Exchange Rate against USD

• Switzerland Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.898 (USD/CHF) in May 2023, compared with 0.898 USD/CHF in the previous month.
• Switzerland Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to May 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4.373 in Dec 1970 and a record low of 0.780 in Aug 2011.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 1971 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Switzerland Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Switzerland Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: 3 Months was reported at 1.450 % pa in May 2023.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Bond Yield: 10 Years) was reported at 0.848 % pa in May 2023.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Overnight Average Rate: SARON) was set at 1.443 % pa in Jun 2023.