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The Federal Reserve and Your Money

Interest rates are now on the decline, but borrowing costs are still the highest in over a decade. Here's what it means for your wallet.

The latest on the Fed from Bankrate’s experts

“Borrowers should understand that ‘falling interest rates’ are not the same as ‘low interest rates.’ The urgency remains to pay down high-cost debt and utilize zero-percent or other low rate balance transfer offers to turbocharge credit card debt repayment.”

– Greg McBride, CFA

Fed cuts interest rates by quarter point but faces uncertainty following Trump’s election win

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second consecutive meeting on Thursday but this time by a smaller quarter of a percentage point, as inflation continues cooling and a slowdown in the job market stabilizes.
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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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About Bankrate
Greg McBride

Greg McBride, CFA Arrow Right Icon

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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Every financial decision you make is impacted by the Federal Reserve.
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Rate cuts are coming. Just don’t call this a low-rate environment just yet.
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Behind the slowing economy is a Fed determined to defeat red-hot inflation.
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You might not feel better about inflation because prices are still up post-pandemic.
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Savings yields topping inflation could let you hold onto your purchasing power.
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Consider a savings account with an APY above the inflation rate.
Federal Reserve Eccles Building illustration
The key benchmark has been as high as 20 percent — and as low as 0 percent.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing.
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Rate cuts are coming. Just don’t call this a low-rate environment just yet.
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