CD Rate Trend Index

Will CD rates rise, fall or remain relatively unchanged? Experts and Bankrate analysts provide their insights. Search high-yielding CD and money market accounts.  Alert me when the RTI is updated

RTI: November 2008 There's little enthusiasm for CDs this month. But they remain a safe haven in these messy conditions. Panel: Short term Up: 0% Down: 57% Unchanged: 43% Panel: Long term Up: 14% Down: 58% Unchanged: 28%   Graph the trend RTI archive

Comments from our panel of experts and Bankrate analysts:   Experts' comments Short-term Long-term Up to now, CD rates have dropped less than may have been expected in an environment of world banks aggressively cutting rates. I expect CD rates to drop further over the month of November as liquidity moves back into the fixed-income markets. Right now the investment opportunities are outside the safety of CDs and Treasury issues. With all the turmoil that has impacted the investment community over the last two months, you are offered a great opportunity to re-evaluate your portfolio and add some quality securities that have seen their prices pushed below reasonable value. There is money to be made in this market on both the stock and corporate bond fronts. Visit your professional to see if you are best positioned for the next two- to three-year market shift. Barry Vosler, CFP, CRPC, AAMS, Linsco/Private Ledger, Dewitt, Iowa down down CD rates are decoupled from the Fed rate cuts. The driver behind the current rates is the banks' demand for liquidity, and I don't see any easing in that in the near term. William Z. Suplee IV, CFA, CFP, Structured Asset Management Inc., Paoli, Pa. unchanged unchanged Bankrate's analysts Short-term Long-term Repeated rate cuts by the Fed aren't helping CD yields, but they're not hurting too bad either. Even though CD yields will trickle lower, investors can take heart that a pronounced drop in inflation will mean positive real returns in 2009. Greg McBride, senior financial analyst, Bankrate.com down down I agree that there's just too much demand from banks for funds for CDs to take a big hit. Additionally, we may start seeing money come back into equities, and some of that cash could come from CDs. While we'll likely see a downdraft in rates due to the cut in federal funds, these other forces could even it out and prop up CDs a bit over the course of the month. I think movements in either direction will be moderate, and high-yield CDs are the best way to go. Laura Bruce, senior reporter, Bankrate.com unchanged unchanged

Certified Financial Planners, Chartered Financial Analysts and others with similar qualifications are invited to e-mail us if interested in participating in our CD Rate Trend Index survey. Please state your professional background, title, company name and address.

About the Bankrate.com Rate Trend Index
Bankrate.com surveys experts in the financial planning, banking and mortgage industries to gauge whether certificate of deposit and mortgage rates will rise, fall or remain relatively unchanged. The deposit index panel consists of financial planners and representatives of institutions that offer FDIC-insured CDs to the consumer. The mortgage index panel consists of mortgage banks, mortgage brokers and other industry experts who are actively engaged in providing residential first mortgages to the consumer. Results from the CD Rate Trend Index are released monthly. Results from the Mortgage Trend Index are released each week.