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.

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.

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)

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

The inflation rate in the United States declined significantly between June 2022 and September 2025, despite rising inflationary pressures towards the end of 2024. The peak inflation rate was recorded in June 2022, at *** percent. In August 2023, the Federal Reserve's interest rate hit its highest level during the observed period, at **** percent, and remained unchanged until September 2024, when the Federal Reserve implemented its first rate cut since September 2021. By September 2025, the rate dropped to **** percent, signaling a shift in monetary policy. What is the Federal Reserve interest rate? The Federal Reserve interest rate, or the federal funds rate, is the rate at which banks and credit unions lend to and borrow from each other. It is one of the Federal Reserve's key tools for maintaining strong employment rates, stable prices, and reasonable interest rates. The rate is determined by the Federal Reserve and adjusted eight times a year, though it can be changed through emergency meetings during times of crisis. The Fed doesn't directly control the interest rate but sets a target rate. It then uses open market operations to influence rates toward this target. Ways of measuring inflation Inflation is typically measured using several methods, with the most common being the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI tracks the price of a fixed basket of goods and services over time, providing a measure of the price changes consumers face. At the end of 2023, the CPI in the United States was ****** percent, up from ****** a year earlier. A more business-focused measure is the producer price index (PPI), which represents the costs of firms.

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.

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.

The benchmark interest rate in Poland was last recorded at 4.25 percent. This dataset provides - Poland 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 **** percent in 1990, the rate has seen periods of decline, stability, and recent increases. As of October 2025, the prime rate stood at **** 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 ******** 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 **** 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.

The benchmark interest rate in Russia was last recorded at 16.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Russia Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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 0.50 percent. This dataset provides - Japan Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The benchmark interest rate in the United Kingdom was last recorded at 4 percent. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Mauritius Inflation Rate: Core 2 data was reported at 1.800 % in Oct 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.800 % for Sep 2018. Mauritius Inflation Rate: Core 2 data is updated monthly, averaging 3.200 % from Jun 2004 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 173 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.900 % in Jun 2007 and a record low of 1.700 % in Dec 2015. Mauritius Inflation Rate: Core 2 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Mauritius. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mauritius – Table MU.I007: Inflation Rate. Core 2 Inflation Rate excludes Food, beverages and tobacco, mortgage interest on housing loan, electricity, gas, other fuels and items whose prices are controlled from headline inflation.

The benchmark interest rate in Hong Kong was last recorded at 4.25 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Hong Kong Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.