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.
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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.
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