to 1.75—2% on Wednesday, September 18, 2019
When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it generally means you pay less interest on debts — but earn less on products like savings accounts.
The current federal funds rate has a target range of 1.75% to 2%. The Federal Reserve announced the first rate cut since 2008 on July 31, 2019, dropping the rate 0.25% from the previous range of 2.25% to 2.5%. It cut rates again by the same amount on September 18, 2019.
Typically, fed rate cuts are a response to a slowing economy. That’s partially the case this time — the economy is generally strong, but business investments are weak. Other factors that impacted the decision were trade wars with China and the prospect of the UK withdrawing from the EU. Most Fed officials expect rates to stay the same for the rest of the year, though some think there will be another rate cut.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sets the federal funds rate, which meets eight times a year. The next meeting is scheduled for October 29 and 30, 2019.
However, the FOMC doesn’t necessarily change rates each time it meets. It only changes rates if the economy calls for it.
The FOMC sets the federal funds rate based on the state of the economy.
A fed rate cut is often good news for consumers, because it often means lower interest rates across the board. That’s because the federal funds rate influences other benchmark rates like the Wall Street Journal Prime rate, which affect the rates you get on a loan or credit card. However, this doesn’t happen overnight — it’s up to financial institutions to adjust their own interest rates as they see fit.
Other products might become less expensive as well, since the fed rate can make business loans more affordable. But lower rates also mean you might not earn as much interest as before on bank accounts or CDs.
Adjustable-rate mortgages are often tied to the WSJ Prime Rate, which means you could see a change in the rates you pay. However, fixed-rate home loans generally follow the 10-year treasury yield — another benchmark rate — and aren’t necessarily affected by the fed rate.
Got an adjustable-rate mortgage? You’ll likely pay more interest if the rate increases, which means higher monthly repayments. Fixed-rate mortgages might also increase for new borrowers if the rate change is a reaction to economic circumstances that affect other rates.
Monthly repayments can decrease on adjustable-rate mortgages. New buyers might qualify for more favorable adjustable rates. Interest on new fixed-rate mortgages generally isn’t affected unless there’s a large economic change.
Rates stay the same for both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. Fixed-rate mortgage rates might increase or decrease if the 10-year treasury yield changes, however.
The fed rate affects interest rates on all variable-rate personal loans and new fixed-rate loans.
Variable rates generally increase on all loans, which means you’ll pay more each month. Hold off on taking out a new fixed-rate loan — you’ll be stuck with a higher rate throughout the life of the loan.
You pay less interest on variable-rate loans. This is a good time to take out a fixed-rate loan, because that low APR won’t budge — even if the fed rate increases while you’re paying back the loan.
You’ll likely pay the same interest rate you had on all fixed- and variable-rate loans.
Credit cards come with variable rates that are typically based on the prime rate, which is tied to the fed rate.
You’ll typically pay more interest on your credit card balance than before. Cash advances also become more expensive.
You generally pay less interest on your credit card balance than before. Cash advances also become less expensive.
You pay the same rate you already were paying.
The fed rate affects only checking and savings accounts that gain interest.
You earn more interest on the balance of your checking and savings accounts with an APY — or annual percentage yield.
You earn less interest on the balance of checking and savings accounts with an APY.
You earn the same amount you were earning before on all checking and savings accounts.
How much you earn from certificate of deposits (CDs) can be affected by the fed rate. Other factors like inflation or changes to the 10-year treasury yield can also cause your rate to rise or fall.
You might earn as high of a yield on your CD as before — unless other influential rates decrease.
You could earn higher yields on your CD than before, barring increases in other interest rates.
Your CD might not change either, unless other aspects of the economy change.
The fed funds rate tends to affect the whole economy. For example, the stock market typically rises or falls along with the federal funds rates. Experts consider it an indicator of the state of the economy.
Life insurance companies tend to charge more when the fed rate decreases and less when it goes up. Loans and lines of credit — including private student loans and business loans — also come with rates that increase or decrease along with the fed rate.
