Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Mortgage Interest and Charges by Generation: Birth Year from 1965 to 1980 (CXUOWNMORTGLB1603M) from 2016 to 2023 about birth, mortgage, expenditures, interest, and USA.

The benchmark interest rate in the United States was last recorded at 4.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Fed Funds Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Real interest rates describe the growth in the real value of the interest on a loan or deposit, adjusted for inflation. Nominal interest rates on the other hand show us the raw interest rate, which is unadjusted for inflation. If the inflation rate in a certain country were zero percent, the real and nominal interest rates would be the same number. As inflation reduces the real value of a loan, however, a positive inflation rate will mean that the nominal interest rate is more likely to be greater than the real interest rate. We can see this in the recent inflationary episode which has taken place in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, with nominal interest rates rising over the course of 2022, but still lagging far behind the rate of inflation, meaning these rate rises register as smaller increases in the real interest rate.

The benchmark interest rate in Japan was last recorded at 0.50 percent. This dataset provides - Japan Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for 10-Year Real Interest Rate (REAINTRATREARAT10Y) from Jan 1982 to Jun 2025 about 10-year, interest rate, interest, real, rate, and USA.

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.

Official interest, rates short - term deposits unsecured and call money

1957 - 2001, January 1957- December 2003 Changed on January 13 2004. Frequency: Discontinued.

Graph and download economic data for Leading Indicators OECD: Component series: Long-term interest rate: Original series for Mexico (MEXLOCOLTORSTM) from Jan 1980 to Jan 2020 about leading indicator, origination, Mexico, and long-term.

Deposit Interest Rate in Sudan remained unchanged at 13.50 in 1984 from 13.50 in 1983. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Sudan.

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.

Zimbabwe ZW: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 5.728 % pa in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.576 % pa for 2015. Zimbabwe ZW: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 34.675 % pa from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 572.936 % pa in 2007 and a record low of 4.257 % pa in 1980. Zimbabwe ZW: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files using World Bank data on the GDP deflator.; ;

Deposit Interest Rate in Bolivia decreased to 3.18 percent in 2023 from 3.21 percent in 2022. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Bolivia.

Uganda: Interest rates on bank credit to the private sector: The latest value from 2018 is 19.85 percent, a decline from 21.28 percent in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 11.41 percent, based on data from 116 countries. Historically, the average for Uganda from 1980 to 2018 is 23.29 percent. The minimum value, 12 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 40 percent was recorded in 1989.

Key information about Australia Long Term Interest Rate

• Australia Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years was reported at 4.42 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.48 % pa in the previous month.
• Australia Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jul 1969 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 16.50 % pa in Aug 1982 and a record low of 0.80 % pa in Oct 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Reserve Bank of Australia.

• In the latest reports, Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 4.12 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 4.10 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.49 (USD/AUD) in Jun 2023.

The United Kingdom: Interest rates on bank credit to the private sector: The latest value from 2014 is 0.5 percent, unchanged from 0.5 percent in 2013. In comparison, the world average is 11.28 percent, based on data from 135 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1967 to 2014 is 7.37 percent. The minimum value, 0.5 percent, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 16.31 percent was recorded in 1980.

Bank Lending Rate in Hong Kong remained unchanged at 5.25 percent in June. This dataset provides - Hong Kong Prime Lending Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (MORTGAGE15US) from 1991-08-30 to 2025-07-10 about 15-year, fixed, mortgage, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Key information about South Africa Short Term Interest Rate

• South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.41 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 7.70 % pa in the previous month.
• South Africa Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Dec 1980 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 22.15 % pa in Feb 1985 and a record low of 3.45 % pa in Aug 2020.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by South African Reserve Bank.

• In the latest reports, South Africa Government Bond Yield: Month End: 10 Years and Over was reported at 10.52 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.50 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.74 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.

Lesotho LS: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 12.836 % pa in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.379 % pa for 2016. Lesotho LS: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.929 % pa from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.967 % pa in 1982 and a record low of -21.532 % pa in 1980. Lesotho LS: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Lesotho – Table LS.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files using World Bank data on the GDP deflator.; ;

Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.