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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

“The biggest question now is how the Federal Reserve will respond to mounting concerns about the ongoing government shutdown, its risks to the economy and how it may influence future policy decisions.”

– Stephen Kates, CFP

The Fed Cut Interest Rates Again. Here’s How Your Wallet Could Feel It.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second straight meeting, a sign that officials are more focused on safeguarding the job market and shielding the economy from a recession than reining in rising inflation.
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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
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Stephen Kates, CFP Arrow Right Icon

Bankrate 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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If you’re looking at HE loans or have a variable-rate line of credit, pay attention to the Fed.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Borrowers often don’t notice small rate cuts, and a weakening economy could dull the relief.
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Auto rates will likely not decrease this year. Consider how to still save.
The Federal Reserve’s decisions have ripple effects, including for mortgages.
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Does the Fed interest rate affect car loans? Yes, it does: It has a domino effect that can raise or lower auto loan rates.
Outside of the Federal Reserve building
The Federal Reserve just lowered interest rates for the first time in four years.
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Bankrate analyzed the Fed’s historic rate moves for clues on what might come next.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks at a press conference after the June rate-setting meeting
The real question is: What will the Fed’s next moves be?
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Experts, however, still don’t see a labor market as tough as it was during the pandemic.
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While the worst of inflation may be over, the battle hasn’t yet been won.
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A recession hasn’t happened yet, but it’s likely still coming, economists say.
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Economists are taking the Fed at its word, penciling in more rate hikes.
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A resilient job market makes it hard to tell if it’s the last call to negotiate.
Jerome Powell at frowning while standing at podium
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said interest rates “may not be far off” from their peak.
US President Joe Biden speaks at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 in Lanham, Maryland, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.
Lawmakers have less than a month to raise or suspend the debt ceiling.
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Here’s what to skip and what to buy — and how to tariff-proof your budget.
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It’s a tale of two job markets: secure for job holders, recession-like for job seekers.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Borrowers often don’t notice small rate cuts, and a weakening economy could dull the relief.
Federal Reserve Eccles Building illustration
Bankrate analyzed the Fed’s historic rate moves for clues on what might come next.
Illustration of Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaking at a podium at the Fed's post-meeting press conference.
Officials are cutting rates to shore up the job market, but it’s not without risk.
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See what the nation’s top economists are forecasting in Bankrate’s Q3 survey.
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Before data started to show that the job market was slowing, cracks appeared in people’s lives first.
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A record 62% say pay hasn’t kept up with costs, climbing from 55% in 2022.
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