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.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: Immediate Rates (< 24 Hours): Federal Funds Rate: Total for United States (IRSTFR01USM156N) from Jan 1960 to Dec 2023 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

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

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 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.

United States US: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 2.208 % pa in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.152 % pa for 2015. United States US: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.162 % pa from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2016, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.720 % pa in 1981 and a record low of -1.280 % pa in 1975. United States US: Real 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. 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.; ;

Key information about United States Short Term Interest Rate

• United States Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills: 3 Months was reported at 4.20 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.20 % pa in the previous month.
• US Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1954 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.52 % pa in Aug 1981 and a record low of -0.01 % pa in Sep 2015.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Federal Reserve Board.

CEIC calculates monthly Short Term Interest Rate from daily Treasury Bills. Federal Reserve Board provides Treasury Bills. Short Term Interest Rate prior to December 1979 is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.


Related information about United States Short Term Interest Rate

• In the latest reports, US Treasury Notes Yield: Constant Maturity: Nominal: 10 Years was reported at 4.45 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Effective Federal Funds Rate) was set at 4.33 % pa in Jan 2025.

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.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Interbank Rates: Total for United States (IR3TIB01USM156N) from Jun 1964 to Feb 2025 about interbank, 3-month, yield, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

United States Interest Rates: 12 Months Expectation: Lower data was reported at 24.000 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.100 % for Jan 2025. United States Interest Rates: 12 Months Expectation: Lower data is updated monthly, averaging 12.100 % from Jun 1987 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 453 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.800 % in Jan 1991 and a record low of 5.200 % in Jun 2018. United States Interest Rates: 12 Months Expectation: Lower data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The Conference Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H044: Consumer Confidence Index: Interest Rate Expectation. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Commercial bank interest rates on personal loans with a maturity of 24 months in the United States were significantly higher in February 2024 than a year earlier. That month, that finance rate amounted to 12.49 percent. Since the year 2000, there have only been a few occasions in which the finance rate was 11 percent or higher.

While interest rates in the United States declined three times by late 2024, average credit card interest rates did not immediately follow suit. This reveals itself when comparing the Federal Reserve interest rate against the APR, or annual percentage rates, of credit cards issued by commercial banks. The APR reached a record high in the country in 2024, likely adding to the growing credit card debt in the United States. This was below the APR of credit cards in a country like Brazil, however. It is expected that the credit card interest rates will continue to need time to catch up with the Fed interest rate.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: Immediate Rates (< 24 Hours): Prime Rates: Total for United States (IRSTPI01USA156N) from 1960 to 2023 about prime, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Key information about United States Long Term Interest Rate

• United States Treasury Notes Yield: Constant Maturity: Nominal: 10 Years was reported at 4.45 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.63 % pa in the previous month.
• US Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1953 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.32 % pa in Sep 1981 and a record low of 0.62 % pa in Jul 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Federal Reserve Board.

CEIC calculates monthly Long Term Interest Rate from daily 10 year Treasury Constant Maturity Yield. The Federal Reserve Board provides 10 year Treasury Constant Maturity Yield. Long Term Interest Rate prior to January 1962 is sourced directly from the Federal Reserve Board.


Related information about United States Long Term Interest Rate

• In the latest reports, US Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills: 3 Months was reported at 4.20 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Effective Federal Funds Rate) was set at 4.33 % pa in Feb 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Commercial Bank Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans, Accounts Assessed Interest (TERMCBCCINTNS) from Nov 1994 to Nov 2024 about consumer credit, credit cards, loans, consumer, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Effective Rate (RIFSPFFNB) from 1954-07-01 to 2025-03-21 about funds, federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

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.

Effective Federal Funds Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 4.33 percent on Tuesday February 11. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Effective Federal Funds Rate.

As of October 2024, the United States government has a monthly interest rate of 3.3 percent on its debt, continuing an upward trend in interest rates that began at the beginning of 2022. In April 2024, U.S. debt reached 34.62 trillion U.S. dollars.