In January 2025, global inflation rates and central bank interest rates showed significant variation across major economies. Most economies initiated interest rate cuts from mid-2024 due to declining inflationary pressures. The U.S., UK, and EU central banks followed a consistent pattern of regular rate reductions throughout late 2024. In early 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 21 percent, while Japan retained the lowest at 0.5 percent. Varied inflation rates across major economies The inflation landscape varies considerably among major economies. China had the lowest inflation rate at 0.5 percent in January 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 9.9 percent. These figures align with broader trends observed in early 2025, where China had the lowest inflation rate among major developed and emerging economies, while Russia's rate remained the highest. Central bank responses and economic indicators Central banks globally implemented aggressive rate hikes throughout 2022-23 to combat inflation. The European Central Bank exemplified this trend, raising rates from 0 percent in January 2022 to 4.5 percent by September 2023. A coordinated shift among major central banks began in mid-2024, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts, with forecasts suggesting further cuts through 2025 and 2026.

Personal savings in the United States reached a value of 911 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, which is significantly higher than in 2022. Personal savings peaked in 2020 at nearly 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars. Those figures remained very high until 2021. The excess savings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and other countries were the main reason for that increase, as the measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus had an impact on consumer spending.

Saving before and after the 2008 financial crisisDuring the periods of growth and certain economic stability in the pre-2008 crisis period, there were falling savings rates. People were confident the good times would stay and felt comfortable borrowing money. Credit was easily accessible and widely available, which encouraged people to spend money. However, in times of austerity, people generally tend to their private savings due to a higher economic uncertainty. That was also the case in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Savings and inflationThe economic climate of high inflation and rising Federal Reserve interest rates in the U.S. made it increasingly difficult to save money in 2022. Not only does inflation affect the ability of people to save, but reversely, consumer behavior also affects inflation. On the one hand, prices can increase when the production costs are higher. That can be the case, for example, when the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil or other raw materials increases. On the other hand, when people have a lot of savings and the economy is strong, high levels of consumer demand can also increase the final price of products.

Key information about India Gross Savings Rate

• India Gross Savings Rate was measured at 30.7% in Mar 2024, compared with 30.7% in the previous year.
• India Gross Savings Rate is updated yearly, with data available from Mar 1951 to Mar 2024, and an average rate of 30.7%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 30.7% in Mar 2008 and a record low of 7.9% in Mar 1954.
• CEIC calculates Gross Domestic Savings Rate from annual Gross Domestic Savings and annual Nominal GDP. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation provides Gross Domestic Savings in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency based on SNA 2008, at 2011-2012 prices. Gross Domestic Savings Rate is annual frequency, ending in March of each year.
• In the latest reports, India GDP expanded 6.1% YoY in Mar 2023.
• India Nominal GDP reached 873,666.0 USD mn in Mar 2023. Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 4.1% in Mar 2023.
• India GDP Per Capita reached 2,452.2 USD in Mar 2023.

The benchmark interest rate In the Euro Area was last recorded at 2.65 percent. This dataset provides - Euro Area Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

European Union central banks navigated a complex economic landscape between 2022 and 2025, with interest rates initially rising across member states. However, a pivotal shift occurred in late 2023 as most countries began lowering their rates, reflecting the delicate balance between controlling inflation and supporting economic growth. In the Euro area, the European Central Bank (ECB) led this trend by cutting interest rates from 4.5 percent to 3.15 percent in 2024, implementing four strategic rate reductions throughout the year. This approach was nearly universally adopted, with Poland being the sole EU country not reducing its rates during this period. Global context and policy shifts The interest rate changes in the EU mirror similar movements in other major economies. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union central banks followed remarkably similar patterns from 2003 to 2024, responding to shared global economic conditions. After maintaining near-zero rates following the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, these institutions sharply raised rates in 2022 to combat surging inflation. By mid-2024, the European Central Bank and Bank of England initiated rate cuts, with the Federal Reserve following suit. Varied approaches within the EU Despite the overall trend, individual EU countries have adopted diverse strategies. Hungary, for instance, set the highest rate in the EU at 13 percent in September 2023, gradually reducing it to 6.5 percent by September 2024. In contrast, Sweden implemented the most aggressive cuts, lowering its rate to 2.25 percent by February 2025, the lowest among EU members. These divergent approaches highlight the unique economic challenges faced by each country and the flexibility required in monetary policy to address specific national circumstances.

Key information about United States Short Term Interest Rate

• United States Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills: 3 Months was reported at 4.20 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.20 % pa in the previous month.
• US Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1954 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.52 % pa in Aug 1981 and a record low of -0.01 % pa in Sep 2015.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Federal Reserve Board.

CEIC calculates monthly Short Term Interest Rate from daily Treasury Bills. Federal Reserve Board provides Treasury Bills. Short Term Interest Rate prior to December 1979 is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.


Related information about United States Short Term Interest Rate

• In the latest reports, US Treasury Notes Yield: Constant Maturity: Nominal: 10 Years was reported at 4.45 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Effective Federal Funds Rate) was set at 4.33 % pa in Jan 2025.

At the end of 2023, Zimbabwe had the highest inflation rate in the world, at 667.36 percent change compared to the previous year. Inflation in industrialized and in emerging countries Higher inflation rates are more present in less developed economies, as they often lack a sufficient central banking system, which in turn results in the manipulation of currency to achieve short term economic goals. Thus, interest rates increase while the general economic situation remains constant. In more developed economies and in the prime emerging markets, the inflation rate does not fluctuate as sporadically. Additionally, the majority of countries that maintained the lowest inflation rate compared to previous years are primarily oil producers or small island independent states. These countries experienced deflation, which occurs when the inflation rate falls below zero; this may happen for a variety of factors, such as a shift in supply or demand of goods and services, or an outflow of capital.

Key information about India Investment: % of GDP

• India Investment accounted for 34.7 % of its Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with a ratio of 32.8 % in the previous quarter.
• India investment share of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2004 to Sep 2024, with an average ratio of 33.6 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 41.2 % in Sep 2011 and a record low of 21.8 % in Jun 2020.

CEIC calculates Investment as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Nominal Gross Capital Formation and quarterly Nominal GDP. Gross Capital Formation is calculated as the sum of Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Changes in Stocks and Valuables. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation provides Nominal Gross Capital Formation in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency, based on SNA 2008 at 2011-2012 prices. Investment as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q2 2011 is based on a combination of SNA 2008 and SNA 1993, at 2004-2005 prices.


Related information about India Investment: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, India GDP expanded 6.1 % YoY in Mar 2023.
• India Nominal GDP reached 873.7 USD bn in Mar 2023.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 4.1 % in Mar 2023.
• India GDP Per Capita reached 2,452.2 USD in Mar 2023.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 30.2 % in Mar 2023.

Brazil Non Performing Loans: Financial System: Foreign Financial Institutions data was reported at 2.600 % in May 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.600 % for Apr 2019. Brazil Non Performing Loans: Financial System: Foreign Financial Institutions data is updated monthly, averaging 3.500 % from Mar 2000 (Median) to May 2019, with 231 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.830 % in Oct 2009 and a record low of 2.310 % in Feb 2005. Brazil Non Performing Loans: Financial System: Foreign Financial Institutions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Monetary – Table BR.KAB009: Non Performing Loans: Financial System. Brazilian Central Bank has made changes in methodology of Financial System Credit Data in February of 2013 after 13 years following the same methodology. These changes are necessary face the expansion of credit, favored by the improvement of the indicators of employment and income, continuous and sharp reduction of the interest rates and by important institutional advances. It is essential the availability of new information, in particular, which allows more detailed monitoring of credit arrangements with targeted resources, especially real estate financing, whose dynamism has contributed to reducing the housing deficit in the country. The main change includes coverage of data on concessions, interest rates, terms and default rates that were extended to the segment of directed credit and also became necessary to further detailing the statistical framework, to enable identification of the terms most relevant as well as reduce the relative share of loans not classified - embedded in 'other receivables'. Banco Central do Brasil fez mudanças na metodologia de Dados de Crédito do Sistema Financeiro, em fevereiro de 2013 depois de 13 anos seguindo a mesma metodologia. Essas mudanças são fundamentais face a expansão do crédito, favorecido pela melhora dos indicadores de emprego e renda, redução contínua e acentuada das taxas de juro e por importantes avanços institucionais. É imprescindível a disponibilidade de novas informações, em particular, que possibilitem o acompanhamento mais detalhado das modalidades de crédito com recursos direcionados, sobretudo os financiamentos imobiliários, cujo dinamismo tem contribuído para a redução do déficit habitacional no País. A principal alteração compreende a cobertura dos dados relativos a concessões, taxas de juros, prazos e índices de inadimplência que passam a serem estendidos ao segmento de crédito direcionado e também se fez necessário aprofundar o detalhamento do arcabouço estatístico, de modo a possibilitar a identificação das modalidades mais relevantes, bem como reduzir a participação relativa das operações de crédito não classificadas – incorporadas em “outros créditos”.

The benchmark interest rate in the United Arab Emirates was last recorded at 4.40 percent. This dataset provides - United Arab Emirates Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar 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.

Inflation in Argentina was 54 percent in 2019, before falling to 42 percent in 2020. Despite Argentina's fluctuating economic instability over the twentieth century, the largest factor in its current economic status is the legacy of poor fiscal discipline left by the economic depression from 1998 to 2002. Although data is not available from 2014 to 2016, Argentina's inflation rate has been among the highest in the world for the past five years.

What causes inflation?

Inflation is a rise in price levels for all goods. Major causes of inflation include an increase in money supply, low central bank interest rates, and expectation of inflation. In a country such as Argentina, the expectation can be one of the biggest obstacles. People expect inflation to be high and demand increasing wages, and firms continue raising prices because they expect the costs of inputs to increase. Banks follow suit, charging high interest rates on fixed deposits.

Effects of inflation

Inflation negatively affects savers. 100 Argentinian pesos in 2018 was worth just under 75 pesos in 2019, after adjusting for the 34 percent inflation rate. Similarly, frequently changing prices has its own inherent cost, called “menu cost” after the price of printing new menus. Inflation will also have a positive effect on national debt when that debt is denominated in Argentinian pesos, because the pesos will be cheaper when the loan matures. However, the majority of Argentina’s debts are in foreign currency, which means that inflation will make these debts larger in peso terms.

Nigeria’s inflation has been higher than the average for African and Sub-Saharan countries for years now, and even exceeded 16 percent in 2017 – and a real, significant decrease is nowhere in sight. The bigger problem is its unsteadiness, however: An inflation rate that is bouncing all over the place, like this one, is usually a sign of a struggling economy, causing prices to fluctuate, and unemployment and poverty to increase. Nigeria’s economy - a so-called “mixed economy”, which means the market economy is at least in part regulated by the state – is not entirely in bad shape, though. More than half of its GDP is generated by the services sector, namely telecommunications and finances, and the country derives a significant share of its state revenues from oil.

Because it got high

To simplify: When the inflation rate rises, so do prices, and consequently banks raise their interest rates as well to cope and maintain their profit margin. Higher interest rates often cause unemployment to rise. In certain scenarios, rising prices can also mean more panicky spending and consumption among end users, causing debt and poverty. The extreme version of this is called hyperinflation: A rapid increase of prices that is out of control and leads to bankruptcies en masse, devaluation of money and subsequently a currency reform, among other things. But does that mean that low inflation is better? Maybe, but only to a certain degree; the ECB, for example, aspires to maintain an inflation rate of about two percent so as to keep the economy stable. As soon as we reach deflation territory, however, things are starting to look grim again. The best course is a stable inflation rate, to avoid uncertainty and rash actions.

Nigeria today

Nigeria is one of the countries with the largest populations worldwide and also the largest economy in Africa, with its economy growing rapidly after a slump in the aforementioned year 2017. It is slated to be one of the countries with the highest economic growth over the next few decades. Demographic key indicators, like infant mortality rate, fertility rate, and the median age of the population, all point towards a bright future. Additionally, the country seems to make big leaps forward in manufacturing and technological developments, and boasts huge natural resources, including natural gas. All in all, Nigeria and its inflation seem to be on the upswing – or on the path to stabilization, as it were.