Banking
Fed’s interest rate history: The federal funds rate from 1981 to the present
13 min read
The Federal Reserve and Your Money
Interest rates are a little lower than they used to be, but they’re still near the highest levels in over a decade. Here’s what it means for your wallet.
The latest on the Fed from Bankrate’s experts
“Interest rates are high and are unlikely to come down quickly. Consumers should lean into this by aggressively paying down high-cost debt and padding emergency savings. Those with less debt and more savings will be best positioned to weather whatever the economy throws at us in the months ahead.”
Fed holds interest rates steady, resisting pressure from Trump
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged for a fifth straight meeting, with policymakers stuck in a prolonged wait-and-see mode as President Donald Trump’s tariffs leave them wary of cutting borrowing costs too soon.
Read More
Recent interest rate trends
Every time the Federal Reserve adjusts interest rates, borrowing and savings rates move in lockstep. Compare Bankrate data to see how the latest Fed decision is impacting rates on key consumer products.
Mortgage rates
This week's mortgage news
Savings rates
What is the average interest rate for savings accounts?
Auto loan rates
Current car loan interest rates
HELOC rates
This week's HELOC news and analysis
Credit card rates
Current credit card interest rates
Experts in all things finance
Our expert reporters and editors bring the news and analysis you need—backed by data and firsthand experience.
About Bankrate
Chief Financial Analyst
Principal U.S. Economy Reporter
Senior Economic Analyst
Editor's picks
Follow us for the latest financial news:
Greg McBride, CFA
Chief financial analyst, Personal Finance
Mark Hamrick
Washington Bureau Chief, Senior Economic Analyst
Sarah Foster
U.S. Economy Reporter and Analyst
Latest articles
Understanding mortgage rate movements could save you money.
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
We look back at how banks handled rate cuts in 2024, and what to expect in 2025.
The August jobs slowdown sets the stage for a Fed cut and brought mortgage rates to their lowest levels of the year.
With a big Federal Reserve decision on the horizon, does it make sense to refinance your mortgage now, or wait?
The Fed continues to signal lowering rates later this month. Here’s how to prepare.
Worried that your high-yield savings APY isn’t so high? Here’s how to stay on top.
As the Fed hints at lowering interest rates, here’s how to prepare when rates fall.
Economists are taking the Fed at its word, penciling in more rate hikes.
A resilient job market makes it hard to tell if it’s the last call to negotiate.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said interest rates “may not be far off” from their peak.
Lawmakers have less than a month to raise or suspend the debt ceiling.
The cost of high inflation is even greater than rising prices.
The Fed won’t want to declare victory in its inflation fight too soon.
Recession odds stalled to the start the year — but those risks are back.
Will a recession be the ultimate cost of slowing prices?
A tough mix of rising prices and weak hiring is leaving the Fed with no easy way out.
In a historic move, Trump announced on Monday that he was firing Fed Gov. Lisa Cook.
Savings yields topping inflation could let you hold onto your purchasing power.
Businesses may now be starting to pass along higher costs from tariffs to consumers.
Bankrate’s experts are reacting live to the Fed’s latest interest rate decision.
Bankrate analyzed the Fed’s historic rate moves for clues on what might come next.
A July rate cut may be off the table, but could a cut in September still be in play?
Bankrate’s Economic Indicator Survey: Unemployment could rise to the highest since 2021 by next year
A slowdown may already be underway in the once formidable U.S. job market.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information