The benchmark interest rate in the United States was last recorded at 3.75 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.

In 2026, the federal funds effective rate continued its downward adjustment as the Federal Reserve advanced its policy easing cycle. After the beginning of 2025 at **** percent following a January rate cut, the rate remained unchanged until September 2025, when it was reduced to **** percent. Additional easing followed late in the year, with the rate lowered to **** percent in November and further reduced to **** percent in December, reflecting a sustained shift toward accommodative monetary policy. This phase of rate reductions followed a prolonged period of elevated interest rates that began after the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, the federal funds effective rate was sharply reduced in response to the economic shock caused by the pandemic, falling from **** percent in February 2020 to **** percent in March and reaching **** percent by April. These emergency cuts, combined with the quantitative easing program, were designed to stabilize financial markets and support economic activity. The rate remained near zero for nearly two years before the Federal Reserve initiated a tightening cycle in early 2022, raising the rate from **** percent in April 2022 to a peak of **** percent in August 2023. After holding rates steady for more than a year, the Federal Reserve began reversing course in September 2024, cutting the rate to **** percent, followed by a further reduction to **** percent in December 2024, marking the start of a broader policy pivot that continued through 2025 and into 2026, reaching **** percent in March 2026. 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 Interest rate adjustments following the COVID-19 pandemic reflected a largely coordinated global response. In early 2020, central banks worldwide adopted aggressive monetary easing to counter the economic shock, with the Federal Reserve cutting the federal funds rate from **** percent in February to **** percent by April, in line with actions taken globally. After rates remained near zero through 2021, rising inflation triggered a synchronized tightening cycle beginning in 2022. As inflation moderated, central banks - including the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, and the European Central Bank - began cutting rates in mid-2024. This shift toward easing broadened in 2025, with interest rates reduced in most countries.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Effective Rate (RIFSPFFNB) from 1954-07-01 to 2026-03-27 about funds, federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit (DFEDTARU) from 2008-12-16 to 2026-04-26 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

The U.S. federal funds rate reached its peak in 2023, climbing to **** percent by December - its highest level since the 2007-08 financial crisis - following an aggressive tightening cycle aimed at curbing elevated inflation. A clear shift in monetary policy emerged in the second half of 2024, when the Federal Reserve began implementing a series of rate cuts as inflationary pressures eased and economic growth moderated. By December 2024, the federal funds rate had declined to **** percent. This easing cycle continued into 2025, with additional rate reductions throughout the year, bringing the rate below **** percent by year-end and signaling a sustained move toward a more accommodative policy stance. 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. Historical 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.

View market daily updates and historical trends for Effective Federal Funds Rate. from United States. Source: Federal Reserve. Track economic data with YC…

View data of the Effective Federal Funds Rate, or the interest rate depository institutions charge each other for overnight loans of funds.

Fed Funds Interest Rate - Historical chart and current data through 2026.

United States - Effective Federal Funds Rate was 3.64% in April of 2026, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Effective Federal Funds Rate reached a record high of 7.03 in July of 2000 and a record low of 0.04 in December of 2011. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Effective Federal Funds Rate - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on April of 2026.

In March 2026, the central banks of the United States, United Kingdom, and euro area maintained steady interest rates, reflecting a continued cautious approach amid moderating inflation pressures and slower economic growth. This period of relative stability followed a prolonged phase of elevated policy rates and underscored the close alignment of monetary policy across major advanced economies. Over the longer period from 2003 to March 2026, the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank displayed notably similar interest rate trajectories shaped by common global economic conditions. In the early 2000s, policy rates were kept relatively low to support growth before being raised ahead of the 2008 financial crisis as economic activity accelerated. The crisis triggered sharp reductions in interest rates to near-zero levels, which were maintained for an extended period to foster recovery. Another phase of extraordinary easing occurred in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted central banks to cut rates to historic lows to cushion the economic shock. This stance was reversed in 2022, as surging inflation led to an aggressive tightening cycle across all three institutions. As inflation began to stabilize in late 2023 and early 2024, the European Central Bank and Bank of England initiated the first steps toward policy easing, leading to a more synchronized approach by early 2026. Divergent approaches within the European Union While the European Central Bank sets a benchmark policy rate for the euro area, individual European countries have pursued differing monetary policy paths to address their specific economic conditions. For example, Hungary recorded the highest policy rate in the European Union, reaching ** percent in September 2023, before gradually reducing it to *** percent by December 2025. By contrast, Sweden adopted a more aggressive easing approach, cutting its policy rate to **** percent by the end of 2025 - the lowest level among EU member states. These divergences underscore the complexity of the European monetary landscape, as national central banks balance inflation control with the need to support economic growth. 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 July 2025, Turkey had the highest 10-year government bond yield among developed economies at **** percent, while Switzerland had the lowest at **** percent. These rates serve as important benchmarks for borrowing costs and economic expectations worldwide.

Interest Rates, Discount Rate for United States was 0.25000 % per Annum in August of 2021, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Interest Rates, Discount Rate for United States reached a record high of 14.00000 in June of 1981 and a record low of 0.25000 in March of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Interest Rates, Discount Rate for United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on April of 2026.

Graph and download economic data for 10-Year Real Interest Rate (REAINTRATREARAT10Y) from Jan 1982 to Apr 2026 about 10-year, interest rate, interest, real, rate, and USA.

The benchmark interest rate in Canada was last recorded at 2.25 percent. This dataset provides - Canada Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The benchmark interest rate in Japan was last recorded at 0.75 percent. This dataset provides - Japan Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Historical and real-time United States Interest Rate data from Trading Economics

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit (DFEDTARL) from 2008-12-16 to 2026-04-22 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

View market daily updates and historical trends for US Discount Rate. from United States. Source: Federal Reserve. Track economic data with YCharts analyt…

The benchmark interest rate in Mexico was last recorded at 6.75 percent. This dataset provides - Mexico Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

View daily updates and historical trends for Target Federal Funds Rate Upper Limit. from United States. Source: Federal Reserve. Track economic data with …

The benchmark interest rate in Switzerland was last recorded at 0 percent. This dataset provides - Switzerland Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.