United States Prime Lending Rate: Month Average data was reported at 7.000 % pa in Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.234 % pa for Oct 2025. United States Prime Lending Rate: Month Average data is updated monthly, averaging 8.250 % pa from Jan 1949 (Median) to Nov 2025, with 923 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.500 % pa in Aug 1981 and a record low of 2.000 % pa in Aug 1950. United States Prime Lending Rate: Month Average data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.M: Lending Rates.

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.

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 average for 2023 based on 88 countries was 14.12 percent. The highest value was in Zimbabwe: 170.29 percent and the lowest value was in Switzerland: 2.86 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Bank Prime Loan Rate (DPRIME) from 1955-08-04 to 2025-11-28 about prime, loans, interest rate, banks, depository institutions, interest, rate, and USA.

View market daily updates and historical trends for US Bank Prime Loan Rate. from United States. Source: Federal Reserve. Track economic data with YCharts…

The benchmark interest rate in China was last recorded at 3 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - China Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Brazilian Prime Rate: Nonearmarked data was reported at 16.750 % pa in Oct 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.310 % pa for Sep 2025. Brazilian Prime Rate: Nonearmarked data is updated monthly, averaging 17.260 % pa from Jan 2005 (Median) to Oct 2025, with 250 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.780 % pa in Dec 2008 and a record low of 8.000 % pa in Apr 2021. Brazilian Prime Rate: Nonearmarked data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.MC: Lending Rate: by Modality.

Historical Prime Rates and Related Significant Events 1956-Present

Understanding Lending and Economic Trends

By Brandon Gadoci [source]

About this dataset

This dataset looks back at the history of lending rates from 1956 to present and investigates the effects of significant historical events on prime lending rate. The data, which was sourced from trusted sources, provides an insight into how major political and economic developments have influenced the cost of borrowing in different countries. By examining which events had an impact on interest rates and by how much, this dataset could prove invaluable for researchers looking to understand historical financial trends or for investors trying to understand past market behaviour. Take a step back in time with this comprehensive collection of lending data – it could be the key to unlocking greater insights into our financial history!

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How to use the dataset

This dataset contains historical prime rates from 1956 to present, as well as significant events that may have affected the prime lending rate. With this data, you can analyze changes in the average majority prime rate charged by banks and any events that may have contributed to this change.

To get started with this dataset, you'll want to make sure you understand the columns it contains: Year: This is the year of the data point. (Integer)
Average Majority Prime Rate Charged By Banks: This is average prime rate charged by banks in the majority of he year for a given time period. (Float)
Significant Events: Significant events that may have impacted or shifted the Prime Lending Rate during a certain period or throughout history. (String)

You can then use this information to begin exploring and comparing periods where there were drastic shifts inside of one year within this data set as it provides an overall view intoprime lending during these different times periods along with what plausible external or internal factors could’ve caused them. To do so, you can use descriptive statistics such a means and medians, along with graphing tools such as line charts and scatter plots to observe any correlations between fluctuations inPrime Lending Rates and Significant Events taking place concurrently at different points in time throughout history over six decades §§ when both economic states seem prosperous or abysmal for comparison purposes so we can identify driving forces behind certain trends inside our data set

Research Ideas

• Create a timeline visualization of major prime rate events in the US to show the influence of various political and economic factors on interest rates.
• Superimpose this data over monthly trends of mortgage and auto loan interest rates to illustrate the impact that movements in the prime lending rate have on consumer borrowing.
• Determine which banks currently offer loans with the lowest prime rates, by tracking historic trends against current market conditions for lenders

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the original authors. Data Source

License

License: Dataset copyright by authors - You are free to: - Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially. - Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. - You must: - Give appropriate credit - Provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. - ShareAlike - You must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. - Keep intact - all notices that refer to this license, including copyright notices.

Columns

File: historical_prime rate.csv | Column name | Description | |:-------------------------------------------------|:---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Year | Year of the average majority prime rate charged by banks. (Integer) | | Average majority prime rate charged by banks | The average majority prime rate charged by banks in a given year. (Float) | | Significant Events | Significant events that may have had an effect on the prime rate. (String) |

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please cr...

Graph and download economic data for Bank Prime Loan Rate (MPRIME) from Jan 1949 to Nov 2025 about prime, loans, interest rate, banks, depository institutions, interest, rate, and USA.

Bank Lending Rate in the United States decreased to 7 percent in October from 7.25 percent in September of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Average Monthly Prime Lending Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This dataset provides values for BANK LENDING RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Panama Lending Rate: Prime Rate data was reported at 4.750 % pa in Jun 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.750 % pa for May 2018. Panama Lending Rate: Prime Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 4.000 % pa from Dec 1999 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 223 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.500 % pa in Aug 2004 and a record low of 3.250 % pa in Dec 2015. Panama Lending Rate: Prime Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Superintendency of Banks of Panama. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Panama – Table PA.M003: Lending Rate.

Policy interest rates in the U.S. and Europe are forecasted to decrease gradually between 2024 and 2027, following exceptional increases triggered by soaring inflation between 2021 and 2023. The U.S. federal funds rate stood at **** percent at the end of 2023, the European Central Bank deposit rate at **** percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate at **** percent. With inflationary pressures stabilizing, policy interest rates are forecast to decrease in each observed region. The U.S. federal funds rate is expected to decrease to *** percent, the ECB refi rate to **** percent, the Bank of England bank rate to **** percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate to **** percent by 2025. An interesting aspect to note is the impact of these interest rate changes on various economic factors such as growth, employment, and inflation. The impact of central bank policy rates The U.S. federal funds effective rate, crucial in determining the interest rate paid by depository institutions, experienced drastic changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsequent slight changes in the effective rate reflected the efforts to stimulate the economy and manage economic factors such as inflation. Such fluctuations in the federal funds rate have had a significant impact on the overall economy. The European Central Bank's decision to cut its fixed interest rate in June 2024 for the first time since 2016 marked a significant shift in attitude towards economic conditions. The reasons behind the fluctuations in the ECB's interest rate reflect its mandate to ensure price stability and manage inflation, shedding light on the complex interplay between interest rates and economic factors. Inflation and real interest rates The relationship between inflation and interest rates is critical in understanding the actions of central banks. Central banks' efforts to manage inflation through interest rate adjustments reveal the intricate balance between economic growth and inflation. Additionally, the concept of real interest rates, adjusted for inflation, provides valuable insights into the impact of inflation on the economy.

Canada Prime Corporate Paper Rate: 3 Months data was reported at 2.200 % pa in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.160 % pa for Nov 2018. Canada Prime Corporate Paper Rate: 3 Months data is updated monthly, averaging 5.100 % pa from Jan 1956 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 756 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.200 % pa in Aug 1981 and a record low of 0.370 % pa in Feb 2010. Canada Prime Corporate Paper Rate: 3 Months data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.M003: Prime Rate.

Lending Rate in China remained unchanged at 4.35 percent in October from 4.35 percent in September of 2022. This dataset provides - China Prime Lending Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Thailand Prime Rate: Minimum Retail Rate (MRR) data was reported at 7.245 % pa in Nov 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.245 % pa for Oct 2018. Thailand Prime Rate: Minimum Retail Rate (MRR) data is updated monthly, averaging 8.000 % pa from Oct 1993 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 302 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.875 % pa in Jul 1998 and a record low of 6.000 % pa in Jun 2005. Thailand Prime Rate: Minimum Retail Rate (MRR) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Thailand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.M001: Interest Rates: Commerical Banks.

This dataset provides values for LENDING RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

With average lending interest rates of **** percent in 2024, Switzerland was the country with the lowest cost of borrowing money among the ones selected here. The average lending interest rate in China was **** percent, and in South Korea it was roughly **** percent. The average interest rate in Israel was **** in 2022, the latest available data, but the prime rate charged by banks in that country has increased since then.

August 2024 marked a significant shift in the UK's monetary policy, as it saw the first reduction in the official bank base interest rate since August 2023. This change came after a period of consistent rate hikes that began in late 2021. In a bid to minimize the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of England cut the official bank base rate in March 2020 to a record low of *** percent. This historic low came just one week after the Bank of England cut rates from **** percent to **** percent in a bid to prevent mass job cuts in the United Kingdom. It remained at *** percent until December 2021 and was increased to one percent in May 2022 and to **** percent in October 2022. After that, the bank rate increased almost on a monthly basis, reaching **** percent in August 2023. It wasn't until August 2024 that the first rate decrease since the previous year occurred, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy. Why do central banks adjust interest rates? Central banks, including the Bank of England, adjust interest rates to manage economic stability and control inflation. Their strategies involve a delicate balance between two main approaches. When central banks raise interest rates, their goal is to cool down an overheated economy. Higher rates curb excessive spending and borrowing, which helps to prevent runaway inflation. This approach is typically used when the economy is growing too quickly or when inflation is rising above desired levels. Conversely, when central banks lower interest rates, they aim to encourage borrowing and investment. This strategy is employed to stimulate economic growth during periods of slowdown or recession. Lower rates make it cheaper for businesses and individuals to borrow money, which can lead to increased spending and investment. This dual approach allows central banks to maintain a balance between promoting growth and controlling inflation, ensuring long-term economic stability. Additionally, adjusting interest rates can influence currency values, impacting international trade and investment flows, further underscoring their critical role in a nation's economic health. Recent interest rate trends Between 2021 and 2025, most advanced and emerging economies experienced a period of regular interest rate hikes. This trend was driven by several factors, including persistent supply chain disruptions, high energy prices, and robust demand pressures. These elements combined to create significant inflationary trends, prompting central banks to raise rates to temper spending and borrowing. However, in 2024, a shift began to occur in global monetary policy. The European Central Bank (ECB) was among the first major central banks to reverse this trend by cutting interest rates. This move signaled a change in approach aimed at addressing growing economic slowdowns and supporting growth.