The benchmark interest rate in the United States was last recorded at 4.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Fed Funds Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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.

The inflation rate in the United States declined significantly between June 2022 and January 2025, despite rising inflationary pressures towards the end of 2024. The peak inflation rate was recorded in June 2022, at 9.1 percent. In August 2023, the Federal Reserve's interest rate hit its highest level during the observed period, at 5.33 percent, and remained unchanged until September 2024, when the Federal Reserve implemented its first rate cut since September 2021. By January 2025, the rate dropped to 4.33 percent, signalling 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 158.11 percent, up from 153.12 a year earlier. A more business-focused measure is the producer price index (PPI), which represents the costs of firms.

Historical dataset of the daily level of the federal funds rate back to 1954. The fed funds rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions (banks and credit unions) lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight, on an uncollateralized basis. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to determine the federal funds target rate.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit (DFEDTARU) from 2008-12-16 to 2025-03-26 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

All key policy rates in the United States increased drastically in 2023. The Federal Funds target range was set to 4.5 to 4.75 percent in February, and it increased gradually to 5.25 to 5.5 percent by the end of the year. The interest rate on reserve balances (IORB Rate) increased from 4.65 percent to 5.4 percent, and the same trend could be seen with the Overnight Reverse Repo Facility Rate (ON RRP Rate), and the Standing Repo Facility Rate (SRF Rate). The sharp increase in all key policy rates was triggered by the growing inflation rate throughout 2023.

Graph and download economic data for FOMC Summary of Economic Projections for the Fed Funds Rate, Median (FEDTARMD) from 2025 to 2027 about projection, federal, median, rate, and USA.

The U.S. federal funds rate peaked in 2023 at its highest level since the 2007-08 financial crisis, reaching 5.33 percent by December 2023. A significant shift in monetary policy occurred in the second half of 2024, with the Federal Reserve implementing regular rate cuts. By December 2024, the rate had declined to 4.48 percent. What is a central bank rate? The federal funds rate determines the cost of overnight borrowing between banks, allowing them to maintain necessary cash reserves and ensure financial system liquidity. When this rate rises, banks become more inclined to hold rather than lend money, reducing the money supply. While this decreased lending slows economic activity, it helps control inflation by limiting the circulation of money in the economy. Historic perspective The federal funds rate historically follows cyclical patterns, falling during recessions and gradually rising during economic recoveries. Some central banks, notably the European Central Bank, went beyond traditional monetary policy by implementing both aggressive asset purchases and negative interest rates.

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.

In January 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 early 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 21 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 0.5 percent in January 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 9.9 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 graph show how interest rates hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve affect gold's price. While gold underperforms during the period leading up to rate hikes, its performance improves during the year after the interest rates increase.

United States US: Lending Interest Rate data was reported at 3.512 % pa in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.260 % pa for 2015. United States US: Lending Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.922 % pa from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.870 % pa in 1981 and a record low of 3.250 % pa in 2014. United States US: Lending Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Lending rate is the bank rate that usually meets the short- and medium-term financing needs of the private sector. This rate is normally differentiated according to creditworthiness of borrowers and objectives of financing. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; ;

The rate on 15-year fixed rate mortgages in the United States decreased in the period after the Great Recession and reached its lowest level in 2021, followed by a steep increase in the next two years. In the early 1990s, the rate on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage was between six and nine percent. The rate then fell to 2.27 percent in 2021. After the Federal Reserve introduced several bank rate hikes to tackle the rising inflation, the mortgage rate soared to 6.11 percent - the highest rate observed since 2008. The rate for 30-year fixed mortgages and five-year ARM mortgages followed a similar trend.

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 5.38 percent at the end of 2023, the European Central Bank deposit rate at four percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate at 1.75 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 3.5 percent, the ECB refi rate to 2.65 percent, the Bank of England bank rate to 3.33 percent, and the Swiss National Bank policy rate to 0.75 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.

Graph and download economic data for Foreign-owned assets in the United States, excluding financial derivatives (increase/financial inflow (+)) (DISCONTINUED) (BOPIN) from Q1 1960 to Q1 2014 about derivatives, foreign, financial, assets, and USA.

United States TMOS: sa: Future Growth Rate of Orders: Increase data was reported at 26.300 % in Apr 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 24.300 % for Mar 2020. United States TMOS: sa: Future Growth Rate of Orders: Increase data is updated monthly, averaging 37.400 % from Jun 2004 (Median) to Apr 2020, with 191 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.400 % in Sep 2004 and a record low of 22.700 % in Feb 2009. United States TMOS: sa: Future Growth Rate of Orders: Increase data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.S016: Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey.

Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly. The Laspeyres formula is generally used.

SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: More Than 4% data was reported at 39.585 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.284 % for Jan 2025. SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: More Than 4% data is updated monthly, averaging 34.704 % from Jun 2013 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 141 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.178 % in Oct 2021 and a record low of 27.287 % in Nov 2019. SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: More Than 4% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H071: Survey of Consumer Expectations: Inflation.

SCE: Distribution of 5 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data was reported at 12.115 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.925 % for Jan 2025. SCE: Distribution of 5 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data is updated monthly, averaging 11.338 % from Jan 2022 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.460 % in Jun 2023 and a record low of 7.899 % in May 2022. SCE: Distribution of 5 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H071: Survey of Consumer Expectations: Inflation.

SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data was reported at 10.379 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.015 % for Jan 2025. SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data is updated monthly, averaging 14.700 % from Jun 2013 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 141 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.093 % in Feb 2019 and a record low of 5.134 % in May 2022. SCE: Distribution of 3 Year Ahead Expected Inflation Rate: 2% to 3% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H071: Survey of Consumer Expectations: Inflation.