Learn About Understanding Policy Rates

What Are Policy Rates and Why They Matter

Policy rates are the interest rates set by central banks—like the Federal Reserve in the United States—that form the foundation of how money moves through the economy. When most people talk about "interest rates," they're often referring to the policy rate or rates influenced by it. Understanding policy rates helps you grasp why your savings account earns what it does, why mortgage payments change, and why prices at stores might go up or down over time.

The Federal Reserve, which is the central bank of the United States, sets a target range for what's called the federal funds rate. This is the interest rate at which banks lend reserve balances to each other overnight. While this might sound technical, it has real effects on everyday financial decisions. As of recent years, the Federal Reserve has adjusted this rate multiple times in response to economic conditions, moving from near-zero rates during economic downturns to higher rates when inflation becomes a concern.

Central banks in other countries have their own policy rates. For example, the European Central Bank sets the main refinancing rate for the Eurozone, and the Bank of England manages rates for the United Kingdom. Each of these rates influences their respective economies in similar ways, though timing and amounts can differ based on local economic conditions.

Policy rates matter because they create a ripple effect through the financial system. Banks use the policy rate as a reference point when deciding what interest rates to charge customers on loans or offer on savings accounts. When policy rates rise, banks typically increase the rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. When policy rates fall, consumers often see lower rates on these products. This connection between policy rates and consumer rates isn't immediate—it can take weeks or months for changes to show up in products people use daily.

• The federal funds rate influences over 150 other interest rates in the U.S. economy
• Policy rate changes affect housing markets, job creation, and inflation over time
• Different countries use policy rates as a primary tool to manage their economies
• The lag between policy rate changes and real-world effects can range from several weeks to over a year

Practical Takeaway: Policy rates are the starting point for understanding how interest rates work throughout the economy. By learning how central banks set these rates, you can better understand why your loan rates, savings rates, and investment returns change over time.

How Central Banks Set and Adjust Policy Rates

Central banks don't set policy rates in a vacuum. They use information about the economy—employment numbers, inflation rates, gross domestic product (GDP), and consumer spending—to decide whether rates should go up, down, or stay the same. The Federal Reserve's policy committee, called the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), meets eight times per year to review economic data and make decisions about the federal funds rate.

The decision-making process involves looking at two main goals that Congress gave the Federal Reserve: price stability (keeping inflation under control) and maximum employment (promoting job creation). These goals sometimes pull in different directions. For example, when unemployment is high, the Fed might lower rates to encourage borrowing and spending, which helps businesses hire more workers. But if inflation is rising too fast, the Fed might raise rates to cool down the economy and reduce price increases.

During the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve lowered its policy rate to nearly zero because the economy was in severe trouble, with millions of people losing jobs and home values plummeting. This stayed in place for years. Then, starting in 2022, as inflation reached levels not seen in 40 years (hitting 9.1 percent in June 2022), the Federal Reserve began raising rates aggressively. Between March 2022 and July 2023, the Fed raised its policy rate from near zero to between 5.25 and 5.50 percent—the fastest series of increases in decades.

Central banks also use other tools beyond policy rates. They can buy and sell government bonds and other securities—a practice called "open market operations"—to add money to the financial system or remove it. During emergencies, they can also create special lending programs to help banks or other financial institutions access cash when credit markets freeze up. The combination of these tools helps central banks steer the economy toward their goals.

• The Federal Reserve's policy committee meets eight times yearly to review economic conditions
• The Fed considers employment levels, inflation, GDP growth, and consumer confidence when setting rates
• Policy rates were near zero from 2008 to 2015 after the financial crisis
• The Fed raised rates 11 times between 2022 and 2023 to fight inflation
• Central banks can use multiple tools beyond just changing the policy rate

Practical Takeaway: Policy rates change based on real economic conditions, not random decisions. By paying attention to employment reports, inflation numbers, and Fed announcements, you can anticipate potential rate changes that might affect your financial situation.

The Connection Between Policy Rates and Consumer Interest Rates

While policy rates set by central banks are important, the interest rates you actually see—on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and savings accounts—aren't directly controlled by those policy rates. Instead, banks and lenders use the policy rate as a starting point and add their own charges on top. These additional charges, called "spreads," cover the bank's operating costs, the risk they take by lending money, and their profit margin.

For example, when the federal funds rate is 5 percent, a bank might offer a mortgage at 7 percent. The 2 percent difference is the spread. This spread can vary based on many factors: the type of loan, the borrower's credit history, the length of the loan, and current market conditions. When you shop around for a mortgage from different lenders, you're seeing how different banks calculate their spreads on top of the same underlying policy rate.

The relationship between policy rates and consumer rates is strong but not perfectly tight. Research from the Federal Reserve shows that about 100 basis points (one full percentage point) of change in the policy rate eventually translates into roughly 50 to 75 basis points of change in mortgage rates, depending on market conditions and the loan type. With credit cards, the pass-through is typically faster and closer to 100 percent. This means if the Fed raises the policy rate by one full percentage point, credit card rates might go up by close to the same amount within a few months, but mortgage rates might only go up by half that amount.

For savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs), banks don't always pass on policy rate increases quickly. Some banks move savings account rates faster than others. During periods when the Fed is raising rates, shopping around for the best savings account rates becomes more valuable because banks compete differently. Some online banks, for example, have historically raised savings rates faster than traditional banks.

• Banks add a "spread" to the policy rate when setting consumer loan rates
• Spreads cover the bank's costs, risk, and profit on each loan
• A 1 percent change in the policy rate typically results in 0.5 to 0.75 percent change in mortgage rates
• Credit card rates usually change faster and more completely than mortgage rates when policy rates shift
• Savings account rates vary widely among banks even when policy rates are the same
• Shopping around becomes more valuable during periods of rate changes

Practical Takeaway: Policy rates set the direction for consumer interest rates, but banks have flexibility in how quickly and completely they pass on changes. This means comparison shopping for loans and savings products remains important even after policy rate changes are announced.

Policy Rates and Inflation: Understanding the Connection

One of the central bank's primary responsibilities is controlling inflation—the general rise in prices over time. Policy rates are the main tool used for this job. The relationship is straightforward in theory: when interest rates are low, borrowing is cheap, so people and businesses borrow and spend more money, pushing demand up and prices up with it. When interest rates are high, borrowing is expensive, so people and businesses borrow and spend less, reducing demand and helping prices stabilize.

Inflation isn't always bad. In fact, central banks typically aim for a moderate amount of inflation—the Federal Reserve's target is 2 percent per year. This