The benchmark interest rate in the United States was last recorded at 4.25 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 Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit (DFEDTARU) from 2008-12-16 to 2025-10-24 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

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

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.

Graph and download economic data for FOMC Summary of Economic Projections for the Fed Funds Rate, Median (FEDTARMD) from 2025 to 2028 about projection, federal, median, 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.

The Federal Reserve's balance sheet has undergone significant changes since 2007, reflecting its response to major economic crises. From a modest 0.9 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of 2007, it ballooned to approximately 6.6 trillion U.S. dollars by August 2025. This dramatic expansion, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic - both of which resulted in negative annual GDP growth in the U.S. - showcases the Fed's crucial role in stabilizing the economy through expansionary monetary policies. Impact on inflation and interest rates The Fed's expansionary measures, while aimed at stimulating economic growth, have had notable effects on inflation and interest rates. Following the quantitative easing in 2020, inflation in the United States reached eight percent in 2022, the highest since 1991. However, by July 2025, inflation had declined to 2.7 percent. Concurrently, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of interest rate hikes, with the rate peaking at 5.33 percent in August 2023, before the first rate cut since September 2021 occurred in September 2024. Financial implications for the Federal Reserve The expansion of the Fed's balance sheet and subsequent interest rate hikes have had significant financial implications. In 2023, the Fed reported a negative net income of 114.3 billion U.S. dollars, a stark contrast to the 58.84 billion U.S. dollars profit in 2022. This unprecedented shift was primarily due to rapidly rising interest rates, which caused the Fed's interest expenses to soar to over 281 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Despite this, the Fed's net interest income on securities acquired through open market operations reached a record high of 174.53 billion U.S. dollars in the same year.

The Federal Reserve’s balance sheet holdings can affect broad financial conditions, including interest rates. In this way, monetary policy accommodation provided through the balance sheet may, to a modest extent, substitute for changes in the target federal funds rate. Specifically, we find a $675 billion reduction in the Fed’s balance sheet over a two-year horizon is about equivalent to a 25 basis point hike in the funds 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.

The U.S. bank prime loan rate has undergone significant fluctuations over the past three decades, reflecting broader economic trends and monetary policy decisions. From a high of 10.1 percent in 1990, the rate has seen periods of decline, stability, and recent increases. As of July 2025, the prime rate stood at 7.5 percent, marking a notable rise from the historic lows seen in the early 2020s. Federal Reserve's impact on lending rates The prime rate's trajectory closely mirrors changes in the federal funds rate, which serves as a key benchmark for the U.S. financial system. In 2023, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing the federal funds target range to 5.25-5.5 percent by year-end. This was followed by several rate cuts in 2024, with the target range standing at 4.25 to 4.5 percent in December 2024. The aggressive monetary tightening in 2023 was aimed at combating rising inflation, and its effects rippled through various lending rates, including the prime rate. Long-term investment outlook While short-term rates have risen, long-term investment yields have also seen changes. The 10-year U.S. Treasury bond, a benchmark for long-term interest rates, showed an average market yield of 2.13 percent in the second quarter of 2024, adjusted for constant maturity and inflation. This figure represents a recovery from negative real returns seen in 2021, reflecting shifting expectations for economic growth and inflation. The evolving yield environment has implications for both borrowers and investors, influencing decisions across the financial landscape.

This graph show how interest rates hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve affect gold's price. While gold underperforms during the period leading up to rate hikes, its performance improves during the year after the interest rates increase.

The benchmark interest rate in Canada was last recorded at 2.50 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.

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 until September 2025, when another cut set the rate at 4.22 percent. 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 benchmark interest rate in Australia was last recorded at 3.60 percent. This dataset provides - Australia Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In August 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 August 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 18 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 -0.4 percent in August 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 8.1 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.

The cost of interest-bearing deposits in the U.S. is forecast to remain elevated between 2024 and 2026, though showing a gradual downward trend during this period. Deposit costs historically hovered below *** percent throughout most of 2015-2021, before surging to approximately *** percent in 2023 amid aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes. While projected central bank interest rate cuts should help ease deposit costs, the decline is expected to be measured, reaching about *** percent by 2026 - still notably higher than pre-2022 levels.

Security service companies have experienced substantial upheaval, with providers facing significant revenue volatility. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a wave of business closures and a mass shift to remote work. This led to a sharp decline in demand for security services, as physical premises were left unattended and corporate profit stagnated, prompting businesses to cut back on expenses. As a result, providers witnessed a pronounced drop in revenue throughout 2020. In 2021, although pandemic restrictions eased and economic activity picked up, the reluctance of a substantial portion of the workforce to return to offices continued to constrain demand. It wasn't until 2022 that a notable recovery took place when more employees returned to workplaces, fueling an uptick in demand for security personnel. Despite the rebound in 2022, providers have faced further challenges due to broader economic conditions. In particular, inflationary pressures prompted the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates, bringing recessionary fears to the fore. This stifled demand for security services in 2023 and 2024 as companies hesitated over investments amid economic uncertainty, though recent cuts in the cost of borrowing may benefit revenue growth in 2025 and in the years following. Meanwhile, the industry has seen consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, as major players like Allied Universal and Securitas AB expanded their foothold by acquiring competing firms. Rising labor costs and fierce competition have also exerted pressure on profit, driving some companies to seek niche markets or diversify their service offerings. Overall, revenue for security service providers in the United States has dwindled at a CAGR of 0.6% over the past five years, reaching $49.1 billion in 2025. This includes a 0.7% rise in revenue in that year. Looking ahead, security companies are expected to benefit from various opportunities but also face new challenges. Economic policy changes in 2025, such as tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and new Congressional legislation increasing deficits, are expected to reduce demand for security services in the short and medium term by slowing consumer spending, weakening business activity and compressing corporate profit. These conditions may limit business investments in security and drive consolidation as larger firms seek to maintain market share. However, stable economic growth and expanding urban populations over the next five years are projected to boost business formation and consumer spending, raising demand for security services and ensuring positive revenue growth. However, persistently declining crime rates may offset some anticipated expansions, potentially shifting demand toward armored transport rather than traditional guard services. Overall, revenue for security service companies in the United States is forecast to creep upward at a CAGR of 1.6% over the next five years, reaching $53.1 billion in 2030.

The industry has grown slightly over the past five years, however, the industry continues to encounter significant competition from more dynamic commercial banks as well as financial technology companies. The industry received tailwinds from regulations and the real estate market as a result of the growing economy following economic volatility at the onset of the period and low interest rates at the onset of the period. However, interest rates were raised significantly by the Federal Reserve following to tackle rampant inflation, which attracted customers to low-risk and high-yield savings accounts. However, in the latter part of the period, the Fed cut interest rates and is anticipated to cut rates in the current year, which will limit demand for industry services. Although the elevated interest rates throughout most of the period has bolstered industry revenue and profit. Overall, industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.9% to $79.7 billion over the past five years, including an expected increase of 0.5% in 2025 alone. Also, industry profit has grown during the same period and comprises 40.9% of revenue in the current year. The main story of this industry over the last five years has been interest rate fluctuations. The Federal Reserve lowered rates to near-zero to save the economy from the global shutdowns and general fear. Lowered rates reduced interest income from deposits, but increased revenue related to the fervorous real estate market. In 2022, the Federal Reserve reversed course and began hiking rates to control inflation. This had the inverse effects of low rates. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in the latter part of the period and is anticipated to cut rates again in the current year although interest rates will still remain at elevated levels, which has contributed to the industry's growth. A broad-based economic recovery is expected to drive some industry growth in the next five years despite the growing regulatory environment. Savings institutions' revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 0.9% to $83.3 billion over the five years to 2030.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) cash rate target in-part determines interest rates on financial products.