The average yield for one-year CDs is stuck in the mud this week, remaining at 2.38 percent, the same as last week. The average for five-year CDs rose by 5 basis points, but that doesn't necessarily make it attractive -- it's still only 3.57 percent.

The jumbos did the opposite of standard CDs; the one-year jumbo yield jumped 4 basis points for an average of 2.66 percent while the five-year jumbo average held steady at last week's 3.75 percent.

It's been a long, tough year for CD aficionados -- and it's only August! The standard one-year CD began the year with an average yield of 3.51 percent, and saw its nadir (we hope) in early April when it sank to 1.92 percent. The five-year kicked off the New Year with an average yield of 3.73 percent, slipping to 2.74 percent by early April. No, it hasn't been a good year for folks looking to make money off CDs, although it beats losing 15 percent or 20 percent on the stock market.

The average money market account is paying 0.71 percent this week, again.

If you want better than average yields, you'll need to shop around and, perhaps, open an account online. A good place to start shopping is Bankrate's database for high-yield CDs and money markets.

-- Laura Bruce

 See CD rates in your area.