The U.S. federal funds effective rate underwent a dramatic reduction in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate plummeted from 1.58 percent in February 2020 to 0.65 percent in March, and further decreased to 0.05 percent in April. This sharp reduction, accompanied by the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program, was implemented to stabilize the economy during the global health crisis. After maintaining historically low rates for nearly two years, the Federal Reserve began a series of rate hikes in early 2022, with the rate moving from 0.33 percent in April 2022 to 5.33 percent in August 2023. The rate remained unchanged for over a year, before the Federal Reserve initiated its first rate cut in nearly three years in September 2024, bringing the rate to 5.13 percent. By December 2024, the rate was cut to 4.48 percent, signaling a shift in monetary policy in the second half of 2024. In January 2025, the Federal Reserve implemented another cut, setting the rate at 4.33 percent, which remained unchanged throughout the following months. What is the federal funds effective rate? The U.S. federal funds effective rate determines the interest rate paid by depository institutions, such as banks and credit unions, that lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight. Changing the effective rate in times of crisis is a common way to stimulate the economy, as it has a significant impact on the whole economy, such as economic growth, employment, and inflation. Central bank policy rates The adjustment of interest rates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a coordinated global effort. In early 2020, central banks worldwide implemented aggressive monetary easing policies to combat the economic crisis. The U.S. Federal Reserve's dramatic reduction of its federal funds rate - from 1.58 percent in February 2020 to 0.05 percent by April - mirrored similar actions taken by central banks globally. While these low rates remained in place throughout 2021, mounting inflationary pressures led to a synchronized tightening cycle beginning in 2022, with central banks pushing rates to multi-year highs. By mid-2024, as inflation moderated across major economies, central banks began implementing their first rate cuts in several years, with the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank all easing monetary policy.

The U.S. federal funds rate peaked in 2023 at its highest level since the 2007-08 financial crisis, reaching 5.33 percent by December 2023. A significant shift in monetary policy occurred in the second half of 2024, with the Federal Reserve implementing regular rate cuts. By December 2024, the rate had declined to 4.48 percent. What is a central bank rate? The federal funds rate determines the cost of overnight borrowing between banks, allowing them to maintain necessary cash reserves and ensure financial system liquidity. When this rate rises, banks become more inclined to hold rather than lend money, reducing the money supply. While this decreased lending slows economic activity, it helps control inflation by limiting the circulation of money in the economy. Historic perspective The federal funds rate historically follows cyclical patterns, falling during recessions and gradually rising during economic recoveries. Some central banks, notably the European Central Bank, went beyond traditional monetary policy by implementing both aggressive asset purchases and negative interest rates.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates, Discount Rate for United States (INTDSRUSM193N) from Jan 1950 to Aug 2021 about discount, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Argentina is by far the Latin American country with the highest monetary policy rate as of 2018. Monetary policy rate, also known as base interest rate or base rate, is a percentage defined by central banks to determine the cost of credit in a given economy. This indicator serves as a guide for other financial institutions to set their own interest rates. The base interest rate defined by Argentina's Central Bank more than doubled from 12.25 percent in 2010 to 26.42 percent in 2017.

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.

Canada CA: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 0.126 % pa in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.969 % pa for 2016. Canada CA: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.987 % pa from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.363 % pa in 1990 and a record low of -4.170 % pa in 1974. Canada CA: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.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.;;

CSI: Expected Interest Rates: Next Yr: Don’t Know data was reported at 2.000 % in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.000 % for Apr 2018. CSI: Expected Interest Rates: Next Yr: Don’t Know data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 % from Jan 1978 (Median) to May 2018, with 485 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.000 % in Feb 1978 and a record low of 0.000 % in Nov 2017. CSI: Expected Interest Rates: Next Yr: Don’t Know data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The question was: No one can say for sure, but what do you think will happen to interest rates for borrowing money during the next 12 months -- will they go up, stay the same, or go down?

The benchmark interest rate in Canada was last recorded at 2.75 percent. This dataset provides - Canada Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The benchmark interest rate in India was last recorded at 5.50 percent. This dataset provides - India Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

Japan: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2017 is 1.07 percent, an increase from 0.62 percent in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 5.03 percent, based on data from 128 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1993 to 2017 is 2.54 percent. The minimum value, -0.95 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 4.31 percent was recorded in 1993.

Mexico MX: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 1.137 % pa in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.627 % pa for 2016. Mexico MX: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.566 % pa from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.142 % pa in 1995 and a record low of -13.174 % pa in 1993. Mexico MX: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.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.; ;

Senegal: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2017 is 4.51 percent, an increase from 4.3 percent in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 5.03 percent, based on data from 128 countries. Historically, the average for Senegal from 2005 to 2017 is 2.8 percent. The minimum value, -2.99 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 6.96 percent was recorded in 2014.

Ukraine UA: Real Interest Rate data was reported at -4.691 % pa in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.788 % pa for 2016. Ukraine UA: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.950 % pa from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.929 % pa in 1998 and a record low of -91.724 % pa in 1993. Ukraine UA: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.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.; ;

Mauritania: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2017 is 15.18 percent, an increase from 5.21 percent in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 5.03 percent, based on data from 128 countries. Historically, the average for Mauritania from 1980 to 2017 is 9 percent. The minimum value, -22.21 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 32.77 percent was recorded in 2014.

Real interest rate of New Zealand sank by 56.46% from 2.54 % in 2016 to 1.11 % in 2017. Since the 311.63% jump in 2014, real interest rate plummeted by 79.27% in 2017. Real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates, Government Securities, Treasury Bills for Poland (INTGSTPLM193N) from Jan 1992 to Feb 2017 about Poland, bills, Treasury, securities, government, interest rate, interest, and rate.

This statistic displays the key interest rates in New Zealand as of August 2017, by type. The effective rural interest rate in New Zealand was around **** percent for the year ending August 2017. In the same period, the 2-year interest rate was around *** percent.