The benchmark interest rate In the Euro Area was last recorded at 2.15 percent. This dataset provides - Euro Area Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This dataset provides values for INTEREST RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

In June 2024, the European Central Bank (ECB) began reducing its fixed interest rate for the first time since 2016, implementing a series of cuts. The rate decreased from 4.5 percent to 3.15 percent by year-end: a 0.25 percentage point cut in June, followed by additional reductions in September, October, and December. The central bank implemented other cuts in the first half of 2025, setting the rate at 2.15 percent in June 2025. This marked a significant shift from the previous rate hike cycle, which began in July 2022 when the ECB raised rates to 0.5 percent and subsequently increased them almost monthly, reaching 4.5 percent by December 2023 - the highest level since the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. How does this ensure liquidity? Banks typically hold only a fraction of their capital in cash, measured by metrics like the Tier 1 capital ratio. Since this ratio is low, banks prefer to allocate most of their capital to revenue-generating loans. When their cash reserves fall too low, banks borrow from the ECB to cover short-term liquidity needs. On the other hand, commercial banks can also deposit excess funds with the ECB at a lower interest rate. Reasons for fluctuations
The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability. The Euro area inflation rate is, in theory, the key indicator guiding the ECB's actions. When the fixed interest rate is lower, commercial banks are more likely to borrow from the ECB, increasing the money supply and, in turn, driving inflation higher. When inflation rises, the ECB increases the fixed interest rate, which slows borrowing and helps to reduce inflation.

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 nan percent in 2025, 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. The ECB continued the series of reductions in the first half of 2025, setting the rate at 2.15 percent in June 2025. 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 12.25 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 1.75 percent by October 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.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Interbank Rates: Total for Euro Area (19 Countries) (IR3TIB01EZM156N) from Jan 1994 to Sep 2025 about interbank, Euro Area, 3-month, Europe, yield, interest rate, interest, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for ECB Deposit Facility Rate for Euro Area (ECBDFR) from 1999-01-01 to 2025-12-02 about overnight, Euro Area, deposits, Europe, and rate.

Key information about European Union Long Term Interest Rate

• European Union Government Bond Yield: Monthly Average: Euro: 10 Years was reported at 3.14 % pa in Nov 2025, compared with 3.12 % pa in the previous month.
• EU Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1970 to Nov 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.44 % pa in Sep 1981 and a record low of -0.09 % pa in Dec 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by European Central Bank.

• In the latest reports, EU Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: EURIBOR: 3 Months was reported at -0.57 % pa in Nov 2021.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Main Refinancing Operations) was set at 2.15 % pa in Nov 2025.
• EU Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.86 (USD/EUR) in Oct 2025.

From 2003 to 2025, the central banks of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union exhibited remarkably similar interest rate patterns, reflecting shared global economic conditions. In the early 2000s, rates were initially low to stimulate growth, then increased as economies showed signs of overheating prior to 2008. The financial crisis that year prompted sharp rate cuts to near-zero levels, which persisted for an extended period to support economic recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to further rate reductions to historic lows, aiming to mitigate economic fallout. However, surging inflation in 2022 triggered a dramatic policy shift, with the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank significantly raising rates to curb price pressures. As inflation stabilized in late 2023 and early 2024, the ECB and Bank of England initiated rate cuts by mid-2024. Moreover, the Federal Reserve also implemented its first cut in three years, with forecasts suggesting a gradual decrease in all major interest rates between 2025 and 2026. Divergent approaches within the European Union While the ECB sets a benchmark rate for the Eurozone, individual EU countries have adopted diverse strategies to address their unique economic circumstances. For instance, Hungary set the highest rate in the EU at 13 percent in September 2023, gradually reducing it to 6.5 percent by October 2024. In contrast, Sweden implemented more aggressive cuts, lowering its rate to 2.15 percent by October 2025, the lowest among EU members. These variations highlight the complex economic landscape that European central banks must navigate, balancing inflation control with economic growth support. Global context and future outlook The interest rate changes in major economies have had far-reaching effects on global financial markets. Government bond yields, for example, reflect these policy shifts and investor sentiment. As of October 2025, the United States had the highest 10-year government bond yield among developed economies at 4.09 percent, while Switzerland had the lowest at 0.27 percent. These rates serve as important benchmarks for borrowing costs and economic expectations worldwide.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates, Discount Rate for Euro Area (INTDSREZM193N) from Jan 1999 to May 2017 about Euro Area, Europe, interest rate, interest, and rate.

Table of the evolution of European Central Bank interest rates

Deposit Interest Rate In the Euro Area remained unchanged at 2 percent in October. This dataset provides - Euro Area Deposit Interest Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

As of June 2025, Estonia was the country in the euro area with the highest annualized interest rate for consumer loans and other credit amounting to over 14.06 percent. The average interest rate for a consumer loan in the euro area was approximately 7.4 percent. Meanwhile, consumer loans with a maturity of over five year had the highest interest rates in the eurozone in 2024.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Eurozone 12-Month Interest Rate. Source: Eurostat. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: Immediate Rates (< 24 Hours): Call Money/Interbank Rate: Total for Euro Area (19 Countries) (IRSTCI01EZM156N) from Jan 1994 to Oct 2025 about interbank, overnight, Euro Area, Europe, interest rate, interest, and rate.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Eurozone 1-Month Interest Rate. Source: Eurostat. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

The 3-months interest rate is a representative short-term interest rate series for the domestic money market. From January 1999, the euro area rate is the 3-month "EURo InterBank Offered Rate" (EURIBOR) EURIBOR is the benchmark rate of the large euro money market that has emerged since 1999. It is the rate at which euro InterBank term deposits are offered by one prime bank to another prime bank. The contributors to EURIBOR are the banks with the highest volume of business in the euro area money markets. The panel of banks consists of banks from EU countries participating in the euro from the outset, banks from EU countries not participating in the euro from the outset, and large international banks from non-EU countries but with important euro area operations. Monthly data are calculated as averages of daily values. Data are presented in raw form. Source: European Central Bank (ECB)

The average interest rate of loans from monetary financial institutions to non-financial corporations in the euro area overall has decreased significantly in 2024 and 2025. In January of 2024 it amounted to 5.2, and by March 2025 it had fallen to 3.61 percent. These figures are a composite cost-of-borrowing indicator that shows the average interest rate of business loans (non-financial), taking into account those with different loan terms or for different amounts.

In June 2024, the European Central Bank (ECB) lowered its deposit facility interest rate for the first time in over two years, marking a shift in its monetary policy stance. This move was followed by a gradual adjustment, with the rate reaching 3.25 percent six months later. By December 2024, the ECB had implemented an additional rate cut, bringing the rate down to three percent. In the first half of 2025, the ECB implemented four further cuts, setting the rate at two percent in June 2025. These reductions came after a prolonged period of steady rate increases, signaling a measured response to evolving economic conditions and a potential recalibration of its approach to support growth and stability.

Policy interest rates in the U.S. and Europe are forecasted to decrease gradually between 2024 and 2027, following exceptional increases triggered by soaring inflation between 2021 and 2023. The U.S. federal funds rate stood at **** percent at the end of 2023, the European Central Bank deposit rate at **** percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate at **** percent. With inflationary pressures stabilizing, policy interest rates are forecast to decrease in each observed region. The U.S. federal funds rate is expected to decrease to *** percent, the ECB refi rate to **** percent, the Bank of England bank rate to **** percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate to **** percent by 2025. An interesting aspect to note is the impact of these interest rate changes on various economic factors such as growth, employment, and inflation. The impact of central bank policy rates The U.S. federal funds effective rate, crucial in determining the interest rate paid by depository institutions, experienced drastic changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsequent slight changes in the effective rate reflected the efforts to stimulate the economy and manage economic factors such as inflation. Such fluctuations in the federal funds rate have had a significant impact on the overall economy. The European Central Bank's decision to cut its fixed interest rate in June 2024 for the first time since 2016 marked a significant shift in attitude towards economic conditions. The reasons behind the fluctuations in the ECB's interest rate reflect its mandate to ensure price stability and manage inflation, shedding light on the complex interplay between interest rates and economic factors. Inflation and real interest rates The relationship between inflation and interest rates is critical in understanding the actions of central banks. Central banks' efforts to manage inflation through interest rate adjustments reveal the intricate balance between economic growth and inflation. Additionally, the concept of real interest rates, adjusted for inflation, provides valuable insights into the impact of inflation on the economy.

According to the European Central Bank's survey of professional forecasters, the interest rate on the ECB's main refinancing operations is expected to decrease from *** percent in January 2025 to *** percent in 2026.