In the United States, interest rates for all mortgage types started to increase in 2021. This was due to the Federal Reserve introducing a series of hikes in the federal funds rate to contain the rising inflation. In the second quarter of 2025, the 30-year fixed rate dropped slightly, to **** percent. The rate remained below the peak of **** percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. Why have U.S. home sales decreased? Cheaper mortgages normally encourage consumers to buy homes, while higher borrowing costs have the opposite effect. As interest rates increased in 2022, the number of existing homes sold plummeted. Soaring house prices over the past 10 years have further affected housing affordability. Between 2014 and 2024, the median price of an existing single-family home risen by about ** percent. On the other hand, the median weekly earnings have risen much slower. Comparing mortgage terms and rates Between 2008 and 2024, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage in the United States stood between **** and **** percent. Over the same period, a 30-year mortgage term averaged a fixed-rate of between **** and **** percent. Rates on 15-year loan terms are lower to encourage a quicker repayment, which helps to improve a homeowner’s equity.

Mortgage interest rates worldwide varied greatly in June 2025, from less than ******percent in many European countries to as high as ***percent in Turkey. The average mortgage rate in a country depends on the central bank's base lending rate and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and forecast economic growth. Since 2022, inflationary pressures have led to rapid increases in mortgage interest rates. Which are the leading mortgage markets? An easy way to estimate the importance of the mortgage sector in each country is by comparing household debt depth, or the ratio of the debt held by households compared to the county's GDP. In 2024, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada had some of the highest household debt to GDP ratios worldwide. While this indicator shows the size of the sector relative to the country’s economy, the value of mortgages outstanding allows to compare the market size in different countries. In Europe, for instance, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the largest mortgage markets by outstanding mortgage lending. Mortgage lending trends in the U.S. In the United States, new mortgage lending soared in 2021. This was largely due to the growth of new refinance loans that allow homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage terms and replace their existing loan with a more favorable one. Following the rise in interest rates, the mortgage market cooled, and refinance loans declined.

This dataset was a manual combination of 3 separate datasets

Inflation Rates (Data set was manually manipulated to match the format of the other datasets) https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0?years_option=all_years

Feds Funds Rate https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FEDFUNDS#

Monthly Mortgage Rate https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MORTGAGE30US

Additional Data Manipulation: Both the monthly feds fund rate and the monthly mortgage rate is an annualized rate. I created annualized inflation rate based on a 12 month lag. To find the inflation rate for a give month, the formula used was (current month CPI - 12-months prior CPI / 12-months prior CPI)

Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in the following two years. In many countries, this resulted in mortgage interest rates across the region more than doubling. In the first quarter of 2025, the average mortgage interest rate in the UK stood at **** percent. Spain had the lowest rate, at **** percent, while Poland had the highest, at *** percent. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which allows mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on home buying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage home buying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

The US home loan market, a cornerstone of the American economy, is experiencing robust growth, projected to maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. Low interest rates, particularly in the early part of the forecast period, have historically stimulated borrowing, making homeownership more accessible. A growing population, coupled with increasing urbanization and a persistent demand for housing in key metropolitan areas, further fuels this market's expansion. Government initiatives aimed at supporting homeownership, such as tax incentives and affordable housing programs, also play a significant role. The market is segmented by loan type (purchase, refinance, improvement), source (banks, HFCs), interest rate (fixed, floating), and loan tenure. While refinancing activity might fluctuate based on prevailing interest rates, the underlying demand for home purchases remains strong, particularly in regions with robust job markets and population growth. Competition among lenders, including major players like Rocket Mortgage, LoanDepot, and Wells Fargo, alongside regional and smaller banks, is fierce, resulting in innovative loan products and competitive pricing. However, the market is not without its challenges. Rising inflation and potential interest rate hikes pose a significant risk, potentially dampening demand and increasing borrowing costs. Stringent lending regulations and increased scrutiny of creditworthiness could restrict access to loans for some borrowers. Furthermore, fluctuations in the housing market itself, including supply chain disruptions impacting construction and material costs, can influence the overall growth trajectory. Despite these headwinds, the long-term outlook for the US home loan market remains positive, driven by the fundamental need for housing and ongoing economic expansion in select regions. The diverse segmentation of the market allows for a nuanced understanding of the specific growth drivers and challenges within each segment. For instance, the home improvement loan segment is expected to see strong growth driven by homeowners' increasing desire to upgrade their existing properties. Recent developments include: June 2023: Bank of America Corp has been adding consumer branches in four new U.S. states, it said on Tuesday, bringing its national footprint closer to rival JPMorgan Chase & Co. Bank of America will likely open new financial centers in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Alabama, and Louisiana as part of a four-year expansion across nine markets, including Louisville, Milwaukee, and New Orleans., July 2022: Rocket Mortgage entered the Canadian Market with the acquisition. The company expanded from offering home loans in Ontario at launch to now providing mortgages in every province, primarily from its headquarters in downtown Windsor. The Edison Financial team grew along with the company, starting with just four team members in early 2020 to more than 140 at present.. Key drivers for this market are: Increase in digitization in mortgage lending market, Increase in innovations in software designs to speed up the mortgage-application process. Potential restraints include: Increase in digitization in mortgage lending market, Increase in innovations in software designs to speed up the mortgage-application process. Notable trends are: Growth in Nonbank Lenders is Expected to Drive the Market.

Context

The Federal Reserve sets interest rates to promote conditions that achieve the mandate set by the Congress — high employment, low and stable inflation, sustainable economic growth, and moderate long-term interest rates. Interest rates set by the Fed directly influence the cost of borrowing money. Lower interest rates encourage more people to obtain a mortgage for a new home or to borrow money for an automobile or for home improvement. Lower rates encourage businesses to borrow funds to invest in expansion such as purchasing new equipment, updating plants, or hiring more workers. Higher interest rates restrain such borrowing by consumers and businesses.

Content

This dataset includes data on the economic conditions in the United States on a monthly basis since 1954. The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions trade federal funds (balances held at Federal Reserve Banks) with each other overnight. The rate that the borrowing institution pays to the lending institution is determined between the two banks; the weighted average rate for all of these types of negotiations is called the effective federal funds rate. The effective federal funds rate is determined by the market but is influenced by the Federal Reserve through open market operations to reach the federal funds rate target. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to determine the federal funds target rate; the target rate transitioned to a target range with an upper and lower limit in December 2008. The real gross domestic product is calculated as the seasonally adjusted quarterly rate of change in the gross domestic product based on chained 2009 dollars. The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a seasonally adjusted percentage of the labor force. The inflation rate reflects the monthly change in the Consumer Price Index of products excluding food and energy.

Acknowledgements

The interest rate data was published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' economic data portal. The gross domestic product data was provided by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis; the unemployment and consumer price index data was provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Inspiration

How does economic growth, unemployment, and inflation impact the Federal Reserve's interest rates decisions? How has the interest rate policy changed over time? Can you predict the Federal Reserve's next decision? Will the target range set in March 2017 be increased, decreased, or remain the same?

Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Mortgage Interest Cost data was reported at 163.200 2002=100 in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 162.600 2002=100 for Feb 2025. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Mortgage Interest Cost data is updated monthly, averaging 106.000 2002=100 from Dec 1984 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 484 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 163.200 2002=100 in Mar 2025 and a record low of 60.200 2002=100 in Dec 1984. Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI): All Items excl Mortgage Interest Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.I009: Core Inflation Index.

Compare UK interest rates and mortgage rates alongside house prices. Interactive charts showing the Bank of England base rate versus 2-year, 5-year, and SVR mortgage rates, with historical HPI trends.

Graph and download economic data for Bank Prime Loan Rate Changes: Historical Dates of Changes and Rates (PRIME) from 1955-08-04 to 2025-10-30 about prime, loans, interest rate, banks, depository institutions, interest, rate, and USA.

The inflation rate for housing services remains about 2 percentage points above its 2019 level. Several factors are likely to slow its decline, including more than a decade of underbuilding prior to the pandemic, limited capacity to increase the nation’s housing stock, and the limited number of homes available for sale due to the steeper mortgage rates owners would face if they sold and purchased a different home.

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.

The USA: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2021 is -1.26 percent, a decline from 2.19 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 1.66 percent, based on data from 106 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1961 to 2021 is 3.66 percent. The minimum value, -1.28 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 8.59 percent was recorded in 1981.

The benchmark interest rate in Mexico was last recorded at 7.25 percent. This dataset provides - Mexico Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Mortgage rates surged at an unprecedented pace in 2022, with the average 10-year fixed rate doubling between March and December of that year. In response to mounting inflation, the Bank of England implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing borrowing costs steadily higher. By October 2025, the average 10-year fixed mortgage rate stood at **** percent. As financing becomes more expensive, housing demand has cooled, weighing on market sentiment and slowing house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold fell significantly in 2023, dipping to just above *** million transactions. This contraction in activity also dampened mortgage lending. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans declined year-on-year for five consecutive quarters. Even as rates eased modestly in 2024 and housing activity picked up slightly, volumes remained well below the highs recorded in 2021. How are higher mortgages impacting homebuyers? For homeowners, the impact is being felt most acutely as fixed-rate deals expire. Mortgage terms in the UK typically range from two to ten years, and many borrowers who locked in historically low rates are now facing significantly higher repayments when refinancing. By the end of 2026, an estimated five million homeowners will see their mortgage deals expire. Roughly two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026, putting additional pressure on household budgets and constraining affordability across the market.

Canada: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2017 is 0.13 percent, a decline from 1.97 percent in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 5.12 percent, based on data from 122 countries. Historically, the average for Canada from 1961 to 2017 is 3.26 percent. The minimum value, -4.17 percent, was reached in 1974 while the maximum of 10.36 percent was recorded in 1990.

The global home loan market is experiencing robust growth, projected to maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 7% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. Firstly, a consistently increasing global population, coupled with urbanization trends, fuels a persistent demand for housing. Secondly, favorable government policies in many regions, including subsidized interest rates and tax incentives for homebuyers, stimulate market activity. Furthermore, the rising disposable incomes in several developing economies are empowering more individuals to access home loans, contributing to market expansion. Innovative financial products, such as online loan applications and flexible repayment options offered by both traditional banks and fintech companies, are further accelerating market growth. Competition among providers, including banks, housing finance companies, and other financial institutions, is also driving innovation and affordability. However, the market faces certain restraints. Fluctuations in interest rates represent a significant challenge, impacting borrowing costs and consequently consumer demand. Economic downturns and periods of high inflation can also dampen market sentiment and reduce borrowing activity. Regulatory changes and stringent lending criteria in certain jurisdictions might restrict access to credit for some potential borrowers. Geopolitical instability and regional economic disparities also influence market growth, with some regions experiencing faster growth than others. The segmentation of the market by provider (banks dominating, followed by housing finance companies and others), interest rate type (fixed vs. floating), and loan tenure (with longer-term loans exhibiting higher demand) reveals opportunities for targeted marketing and product development. The leading companies, including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs (Marcus), and several international and regional players, are leveraging these trends to expand their market share. The geographical distribution of the market, with significant regional variations reflecting varying economic conditions and housing markets, presents diverse investment and growth opportunities. Recent developments include: September 2022: Citigroup Inc said it has slightly trimmed its mortgage workforce, due to an internal streamlining of functions.Less than 100 positions were affected.September 2022: Bank of America is launching a new mortgage product that would allow first-time homebuyers to purchase a home with no down payment, no mortgage insurance and zero closing costs.It will not require a minimum credit score and will instead consider other factors for eligibility.. Key drivers for this market are: Real Estate Market Trends, Government Policies. Potential restraints include: Real Estate Market Trends, Government Policies. Notable trends are: Turkey has the Highest Mortgage Interest Rate.

In September 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 September 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 17 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 -0.3 percent in September 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 8 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 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.

Australia: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2019 is 1.58 percent, a decline from 3.33 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 6.73 percent, based on data from 114 countries. Historically, the average for Australia from 1961 to 2019 is 3.5 percent. The minimum value, -6.02 percent, was reached in 1974 while the maximum of 10.09 percent was recorded in 1991.

Chile: Real interest rate: Bank lending rate minus inflation: The latest value from 2018 is 2.55 percent, an increase from -0.26 percent in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 5.98 percent, based on data from 116 countries. Historically, the average for Chile from 1985 to 2018 is 6 percent. The minimum value, -3.87 percent, was reached in 2006 while the maximum of 21.47 percent was recorded in 1990.