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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

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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Bankrate’s latest Economic Indicator survey finds economists are revisiting Fed policy predictions.
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With the best job market in decades, the Fed is wondering why there isn’t more inflation.
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The Fed continues to delay any interest rate moves amid persistently low inflation.
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The Fed will most likely hold interest rates steady, but here’s how it could still impact your wallet.
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The Fed voted to leave interest rates alone for the second-straight meeting.
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Two-thirds of economists surveyed say the U.S. central bank will increase borrowing costs again in 2019.
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Learn all about Jerome Powell, who is presiding over his first FOMC policy meeting.
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Bankrate delivers the latest news to you.
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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.
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Every financial decision you make is impacted by the Federal Reserve.
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.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
Image of Jerome Powell
Rate cuts usually help your budget. This time, the impact may be barely noticeable.
Illustration of gift box surrounded by an up arrow representing higher inflation.
Here’s what to skip and what to buy — and how to tariff-proof your budget.
Illustration of woman holding a briefcase in front of two bar graphs representing the deteriorating labor market
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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