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. The first rate cut in 2025 then set the rate at 4.33 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.

Japan JP: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 0.769 % pa in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.978 % pa for 2015. Japan JP: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 2.802 % pa from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2016, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.125 % pa in 1983 and a record low of -12.450 % pa in 1970. Japan JP: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.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.; ;

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.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Interbank Rates: Total for France (IR3TIB01FRM156N) from Jan 1970 to Feb 2025 about interbank, France, 3-month, yield, interest rate, interest, and rate.

Key information about European Union Long Term Interest Rate

• European Union Government Bond Yield: Monthly Average: Euro: 10 Years was reported at 2.99 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 3.09 % pa in the previous month.
• EU Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1970 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.44 % pa in Sep 1981 and a record low of -0.09 % pa in Dec 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by European Central Bank.

Related information about European Union Long Term Interest Rate

• In the latest reports, EU Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: EURIBOR: 3 Months was reported at -0.57 % pa in Nov 2021.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Main Refinancing Operations) was set at 2.90 % pa in Feb 2025.
• EU Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.92 (USD/EUR) in Jun 2023.

Long term dataset showing the 30 year fixed rate mortgage average in the United States since 1971.

In 2023, the yield on 10-year U.S. treasury securities increased to 3.96 percent, up from 2.95 percent in the previous year. 2020 recorded the lowest value in the period under consideration, and well below the longer-term average. In 1980 the yield was 11.43 percent. What are treasury securities? The United States government consistently has a budget deficit, and it finances this spending with debt issued by the Treasury Department. These treasury securities are attractive investments because most investors believe that the United States Treasury Department will never default. For this reason, many investors of different varieties hold these securities. Country differences The markets consider treasury securities to be low-risk, as they are secured by governments. Different countries differ in level of indebtment, value of investments, stability of currency, GDP growth, inflation, etc. These factors are the reasons why yields on government bonds differ from country to country. The yield shows how much a given government has to pay to the investors for the money that it borrows.

Gjeldende verdier, historiske data, prognoser, statistikk, diagrammer og økonomiske kalender - Ecuador - Rentesats.

Personal savings in the United States reached a value of 911 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, which is significantly higher than in 2022. Personal savings peaked in 2020 at nearly 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars. Those figures remained very high until 2021. The excess savings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and other countries were the main reason for that increase, as the measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus had an impact on consumer spending.

Saving before and after the 2008 financial crisisDuring the periods of growth and certain economic stability in the pre-2008 crisis period, there were falling savings rates. People were confident the good times would stay and felt comfortable borrowing money. Credit was easily accessible and widely available, which encouraged people to spend money. However, in times of austerity, people generally tend to their private savings due to a higher economic uncertainty. That was also the case in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Savings and inflationThe economic climate of high inflation and rising Federal Reserve interest rates in the U.S. made it increasingly difficult to save money in 2022. Not only does inflation affect the ability of people to save, but reversely, consumer behavior also affects inflation. On the one hand, prices can increase when the production costs are higher. That can be the case, for example, when the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil or other raw materials increases. On the other hand, when people have a lot of savings and the economy is strong, high levels of consumer demand can also increase the final price of products.

In 2019, the Netherlands reached an insurance density of 4,822 U.S. dollars. Insurance density is a measure to gauge a country's insurance market, specifically the gross premiums paid in relation to the inhabitants of the measured country. There were approximately 147 insurance companies on the Dutch market at the end of 2018.

The "life" branch of insurances focuses on life insurances, pensions and funeral in kind insurances with Nationale-Nederlanden, Achmea and SRLev being the leading companies in this branch in the Netherlands. In 2006, the market share of life insurance business in terms of gross premium, the ratio of gross life insurance premium to the total gross premium, reached a value of approximately 56 percent. This, however, decreased to approximately 16 percent in 2018. This development coincides with the European Central Bank purchasing assets on credit markets across Europe and, consequently, low interest rates in long-term investments, such as the capital market rate of ten-year government bonds in the Netherlands.

La tasa de interés de depósito en Nigeria aumentó a 11.99 por ciento en enero desde el 11.59 por ciento en diciembre de 2024. Los valores actuales, los datos históricos, las previsiones, estadísticas, gráficas y calendario económico - Nigeria - Depósito Tasa de Interés.

Key information about Japan Exchange Rate against USD

• Japan Exchange Rate against USD averaged 137.053 (USD/JPY) in May 2023, compared with 133.475 USD/JPY in the previous month.
• Japan Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to May 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 360.000 in Dec 1970 and a record low of 76.643 in Oct 2011.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 1971 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Japan Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Japan Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: TIBOR: Japanese Yen: 3 Months was reported at 0.075 % pa in May 2023.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Bonds Yield: Government Bonds: Newly Issued: 10 Years: Month End) was reported at 0.390 % pa in Apr 2023.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Japan: Complementary Deposit Facility Interest Rate) was set at -0.100 % pa in May 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Inflation, consumer prices for the United States (FPCPITOTLZGUSA) from 1960 to 2023 about consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Between January 1971 and March 2024, gold had average annual returns of 7.98 percent, which was only slightly behind the return of commodities, with an annual average of eight percent. The annual average return of gold in 2023 was 13.1 percent. What is the total global demand for gold? The global demand for gold remains robust owing to its historical importance, financial stability, and cultural appeal. During economic uncertainty, investors look for a safe haven, while emerging markets fuel jewelry demand. A distinct contrast transpired during COVID-19, when the global demand for gold experienced a sharp decline in 2020 owing to a reduction in consumer spending. However, the subsequent years saw an increase in demand for the precious metal. How much gold is produced worldwide? The production of gold depends mainly on geological formations, market demand, and the cost of production. These factors have a significant impact on the discovery, extraction, and economic viability of gold mining operations worldwide. In 2024, the worldwide production of gold was expected to reach 124 million ounces, and it is anticipated that the rate of growth will increase as exploration technologies improve, gold prices rise, and mining practices improve.

Key information about South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate

• South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER: 2005=100: Month Avg: South Africa) was 89.3 in Dec 2024, compared with the number of 90.0 in the previous month.
• South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate data is updated monthly and averaged 143.5 from Jan 1970 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 143.5 in Aug 1983 and a record low of 63.9 in Dec 2001.

CEIC generates Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2005=100. South African Reserve Bank provides Real Effective Exchange Rate Index with base 2015=100. Producer Price Index for manufactured goods is used as a deflator. An increase in REER indicates reduced competitiveness for the reporting economy.


Related information about South Africa Real Effective Exchange Rate

• In the latest reports, South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.4 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.5 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.7 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.