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.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
The benchmark interest rate in Georgia was last recorded at 8 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Georgia Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.
In June 2024, the European Central Bank (ECB) lowered its deposit facility interest rate for the first time in over two years, marking a shift in its monetary policy stance. This move was followed by a gradual adjustment, with the rate reaching 3.25 percent six months later. By December 2024, the ECB implemented an additional rate cut, bringing the rate down to three percent. In the first half of 2025, the ECB implemented four further cuts, setting the rate at two percent in June 2025. These reductions came after a prolonged period of steady rate increases, signaling a measured response to evolving economic conditions and a potential recalibration of its approach to support growth and stability.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-citation-requiredhttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-citation-required
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.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
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.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Jordan JO: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 7.037 % pa in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.066 % pa for 2015. Jordan JO: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.066 % pa from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.781 % pa in 1999 and a record low of -9.045 % pa in 2008. Jordan JO: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.World Bank: 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.; ;
The interest rate of business loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the United States in 2022 was lower than the average for all firms, which amounted to **** percent. However, the cost of lending money to SMEs was more expensive than to large firms between 2007 and 2019. The cost of lending decreased significantly for all types of businesses in 2020 and 2021.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Mortgage credit interest rate, percent in Switzerland, June, 2025 The most recent value is 1.83 percent as of June 2025, an increase compared to the previous value of 1.73 percent. Historically, the average for Switzerland from February 2008 to June 2025 is 2.14 percent. The minimum of 1.24 percent was recorded in February 2020, while the maximum of 4.58 percent was reached in June 2008. | TheGlobalEconomy.com
Based on an "illustrative scenario" in which the United Kingdom (UK) moves to a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) on the 1st of January 2021, this forecast shows the expected annual average bank base interest rate in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic. In a bid to minimize the economic effects of the Covid-19 virus, on the 19th of March 2020 the Bank of England cut the official bank base rate to a record low of 0.1 percent. This historic low came just one week after the Bank of England cut rates from 0.75 percent to 0.25 percent in a bid to prevent mass job cuts in the United Kingdom. In the current forecast scenario, bank interest rates are set to stay between 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent up to 2022.
In June 2024, the European Central Bank (ECB) reduced the interest rate on its marginal lending facility by 0.25 percentage points, marking the first cut since 2016. Three months later, the ECB implemented another cut, setting the rate at 3.9 percent. It was followed by two further cuts at the end of 2024 and four more in the first half of 2025, the latest one setting the rate at 2.4 percent. The marginal lending rate had previously been adjusted on March 16, 2016, when it was lowered from 0.3 percent to 0.25 percent, remaining unchanged until July 2022, when it was raised to 0.75 percent. After September 2022, the rate saw regular increases, reaching 4.75 percent by April 2024.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
The benchmark interest rate in Cape Verde was last recorded at 2.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Cape Verde Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.
In 2023, the deposit interest rate in Switzerland was **** percent. Between 2008 and 2023, the figure dropped by **** percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.
From 2003 to 2025, the central banks of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union exhibited remarkably similar interest rate patterns, reflecting shared global economic conditions. In the early 2000s, rates were initially low to stimulate growth, then increased as economies showed signs of overheating prior to 2008. The financial crisis that year prompted sharp rate cuts to near-zero levels, which persisted for an extended period to support economic recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to further rate reductions to historic lows, aiming to mitigate economic fallout. However, surging inflation in 2022 triggered a dramatic policy shift, with the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank significantly raising rates to curb price pressures. As inflation stabilized in late 2023 and early 2024, the ECB and Bank of England initiated rate cuts by mid-2024, and the Federal Reserve also implemented its first cut in three years, with forecasts suggesting a gradual decrease in all major interest rates between 2025 and 2026. Divergent approaches within the European Union While the ECB sets a benchmark rate for the Eurozone, individual EU countries have adopted diverse strategies to address their unique economic circumstances. For instance, Hungary set the highest rate in the EU at 13 percent in September 2023, gradually reducing it to 6.5 percent by October 2024. In contrast, Sweden implemented more aggressive cuts, lowering its rate to two percent by June 2025, the lowest among EU members. These variations highlight the complex economic landscape that European central banks must navigate, balancing inflation control with economic growth support. 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 December 2024, the United States had the highest 10-year government bond yield among developed economies at 4.59 percent, while Switzerland had the lowest at 0.27 percent. These rates serve as important benchmarks for borrowing costs and economic expectations worldwide.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-public-domainhttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-public-domain
Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit (DFEDTARU) from 2008-12-16 to 2025-09-29 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Key information about China Long Term Interest Rate
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-public-domainhttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-public-domain
Graph and download economic data for Interest Rate Paid on Excess Reserve Balances (Institutions with 1-Week Maintenance Period) (DISCONTINUED) (INTEXC1) from 2008-10-15 to 2013-06-26 about 1-week, maintenance, paid, balance, reserves, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Ethiopia ET: Real Interest Rate data was reported at -17.122 % pa in 2008. This records a decrease from the previous number of -8.293 % pa for 2007. Ethiopia ET: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.376 % pa from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2008, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.635 % pa in 2001 and a record low of -17.671 % pa in 1985. Ethiopia ET: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ethiopia – Table ET.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.; ;
Lending interest rate of Japan decreased by 4.86% from 1.04 % in 2016 to 0.99 % in 2017. Since the 1.39% rise in 2008, lending interest rate sank by 47.94% in 2017. Lending interest rate is the rate charged by banks on loans to prime customers.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Trinidad and Tobago TT: Interest Rate Spread data was reported at 7.500 % pa in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.500 % pa for 2016. Trinidad and Tobago TT: Interest Rate Spread data is updated yearly, averaging 7.500 % pa from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.380 % pa in 1998 and a record low of 5.067 % pa in 2008. Trinidad and Tobago TT: Interest Rate Spread data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Trinidad and Tobago – Table TT.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Interest rate spread is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the interest rate paid by commercial or similar banks for demand, time, or savings deposits. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; Median;
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Slovenia SI: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 2.509 % pa in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.053 % pa for 2008. Slovenia SI: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 5.312 % pa from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2009, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.694 % pa in 1997 and a record low of 1.674 % pa in 2007. Slovenia SI: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovenia – Table SI.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.;;
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.