How the Federal Funds Rate Affects Your Wallet

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell is the face of a lot of gov money moves that affect you. Like changing the federal funds rate — an important percentage that influences everything from inflation to what you pay for loans.

When things don’t look so hot, the Fed can lower rates to encourage people to borrow, spend, and invest...which can help boost the economy. Since COVID-19 had some serious economic side effects, the Fed lowered rates to essentially zero in March 2020. On the other hand, the Fed can increase interest rates when it thinks the economy’s doing well enough to handle higher borrowing costs. This can also slow down inflation because higher interest rates encourage people to save their money instead of spending it.

In 2022, the Fed has increased interest rates five times so far (thanks, inflation). With prices still going up, the Fed raised rates by 0.75 percentage points in September, bringing rates to about 3% to 3.25%. The Fed works hard, but inflation may be working harder. Many experts expect rate hikes to continue into 2023. Some say the Fed could push rates up to about 4% by the end of this year. 

And, there are some things you’ll see change as a result. Here’s what to look for.

Is ‘become a homeowner’ on your to-do list?

• The fed funds rate isn’t directly tied to mortgages, but it can influence them. Buying when interest rates are high can make that dream more expensive. And vice versa.

• Mortgage rates were at historic lows in 2021, but are already on the rise this year. To make sure you get the best deal — whenever you buy — compare rates from multiple lenders.

• FYI, lenders got pickier about who they did business with during the pandemic to protect against people defaulting on their loans. They've loosened up. But it's never a bad idea to work on your credit score.

Do you already own a home?

• Refinancing to a lower rate (before they go higher) could help you save on interest charges over the life of the loan. If this money move has been on your to-do list, get moving.

• Heads up: Swapping out your old home loan for a new one may mean paying closing costs again. Do some HW to make sure you’ll save more than you spend.

Are you working on paying off credit card debt?

• When the federal funds rate goes up, the interest on variable-rate cards can, too. That makes it more expensive — and probably longer — to pay off your balance. 

• Make a plan to pay off your credit card debt ASAP before the rate hikes go further. Pro tip: call your credit card issuer now and ask for a lower interest rate.

Do you like making money on your money?

• Good news: When rates are high, banks may pay you a little more to keep money in your savings account. (Although banks tend to be slower on raising interest rates on your savings than increasing the rate on your credit card.) If you’re shopping for a new place to park your money, compare rates at online banks. They usually offer better interest rates than old-school options.

• If you don’t need your money for a while, investing gives it a chance to grow even faster.

theSkimm

The Fed's getting this interest-hike party started to help combat inflation. That means you could see higher mortgage rates and pay more to carry credit card debt. But it's good news for savers, who might get paid a little more to keep their money in the bank.

Updated July 27 to include new info on the Fed's rate hike decision.