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. In January 2025, the Federal Reserve implemented another cut, setting the rate at 4.33 percent, which remained unchanged throughout the following months. 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.

Dataset Description

This dataset contains the actual and predicted federal funds target rate for the United States from 1990 to 2023. The federal funds target rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions lend their excess reserves to each other overnight. It is set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and is a key tool used by the Federal Reserve to influence the economy.

The dataset includes the following five columns:

Release Date: The date on which the data was released by the Federal Reserve. Time: The time of day at which the data was released. Actual: The actual federal funds target rate. Predicted: The predicted federal funds target rate. Forecast: The forecast federal funds target rate.

Data Usage

This dataset can be used for a variety of purposes, including: - Analyzing trends in the federal funds target rate over time. - Forecasting the future path of the federal funds target rate. - Assessing the effectiveness of monetary policy. - Data Quality

The data for this dataset is of high quality. The Federal Reserve is a reputable source of data and the data is updated regularly.

Data Limitations

The data for this dataset is limited to the United States. Additionally, the data does not include information on the factors that influenced the Federal Open Market Committee's decision to set the federal funds target rate.

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.

The benchmark interest rate in Russia was last recorded at 18 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Russia Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The benchmark interest rate in India was last recorded at 5.50 percent. This dataset provides - India Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit (DFEDTARU) from 2008-12-16 to 2025-09-01 about federal, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

The benchmark interest rate in Australia was last recorded at 3.60 percent. This dataset provides - Australia Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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 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.

United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 30 Year data was reported at 3.241 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.082 % pa for Sep 2018. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 30 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 4.268 % pa from Jul 2000 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 220 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.199 % pa in Jul 2000 and a record low of 1.751 % pa in Aug 2016. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 30 Year 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.M014: Interest Rate: Swaps Rates.

United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 2 Year data was reported at 3.054 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.939 % pa for Sep 2018. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 2 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 1.806 % pa from Jul 2000 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 220 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.119 % pa in Jul 2000 and a record low of 0.374 % pa in Apr 2013. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 2 Year 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.M014: Interest Rate: Swaps Rates.

United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 1 Year data was reported at 2.917 % pa in Nov 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.850 % pa for Oct 2018. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 1 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 1.409 % pa from Jul 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.056 % pa in Jul 2000 and a record low of 0.260 % pa in May 2014. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 1 Year 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.M014: Interest Rate: Swaps Rates.

United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 7 Year data was reported at 3.114 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.160 % pa for Oct 2018. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 7 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 3.150 % pa from Jul 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.199 % pa in Jul 2000 and a record low of 1.190 % pa in Nov 2012. United States Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 7 Year 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.M014: Interest Rate: Swaps Rates.

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.

The benchmark interest rate in Mexico was last recorded at 7.75 percent. This dataset provides - Mexico Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Commercial paper, in the global financial market, is an unsecured promissory note with a fixed maturity of not more than 270 days.

Commercial paper is a money-market security issued (sold) by large corporations to obtain funds to meet short-term debt obligations (for example, payroll), and is backed only by an issuing bank or company promise to pay the face amount on the maturity date specified on the note. Since it is not backed by collateral, only firms with excellent credit ratings from a recognized credit rating agency will be able to sell their commercial paper at a reasonable price. Commercial paper is usually sold at a discount from face value, and generally carries lower interest repayment rates than bonds due to the shorter maturities of commercial paper. Typically, the longer the maturity on a note, the higher the interest rate the issuing institution pays. Interest rates fluctuate with market conditions, but are typically lower than banks' rates.

Commercial paper – though a short-term obligation – is issued as part of a continuous rolling program, which is either a number of years long (as in Europe), or open-ended (as in the U.S.)

Acknowledgements

This dataset was made available by the Federal Reserve. You can find the original dataset, updated daily, here.

Inspiration

• Based solely on this dataset, when would you say the Great Recession financial crisis started? How does that compare with media reports?

Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 3 Year data was reported at 3.075 % pa in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.112 % pa for Oct 2018. Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 3 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 2.227 % pa from Jul 2000 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.136 % pa in Jul 2000 and a record low of 0.460 % pa in Nov 2012. Interest Rate Swaps: Mth Avg: 3 Year 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.M014: Interest Rate: Swaps Rates.

United States FB: NY: Incl IBF: Memo: RT: Floating Interest Rates data was reported at 222.080 USD bn in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 216.629 USD bn for Sep 2019. United States FB: NY: Incl IBF: Memo: RT: Floating Interest Rates data is updated quarterly, averaging 210.190 USD bn from Mar 2013 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 229.482 USD bn in Mar 2016 and a record low of 136.287 USD bn in Mar 2013. United States FB: NY: Incl IBF: Memo: RT: Floating Interest Rates 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.KB044: Balance Sheet: Foreign Banks: New York.