The American central bank, the the Federal Reserve, ultimately raised its short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, signalling that it will further raise the rates even higher in the coming months to address rising rates of inflation. It is argued that this move will impact the majority of Americans.
Higher interest rates may raise the cost of borrowing for consumers trying to buy a home or a car, a trend that is already happening. These higher costs may help to keep inflation at bay by reducing demand and slowing economic growth.
Here are a few ways that rising interest rates could affect borrowers.
Mortgage rates began to climb in anticipation of Fed rate hikes, and they are projected to rise even further now that the Fed has raised short-term borrowing rates.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged to 4.27 per cent in the week ending March 11, up nearly a full percentage point from a year ago and the highest level since May 2019.
Higher mortgage rates can make buying a home more expensive, making it more difficult for some would-be homeowners. Some purchasers may need to increase their monthly payments or hunt for a less expensive house to keep payments at a level they can afford.
Increased borrowing rates may reduce demand for homes, but with inventory at an all-time low, it may be some time before the move has an impact on home prices, according to Domonic Purviance, a real estate specialist with the Atlanta Board of Realtors.
In the short term, home values may rise more slowly, but they are unlikely to fall, according to Purviance.
Car costs have risen as a result of a scarcity of vehicles for sale, and now increasing interest rates may make car loans more expensive. This is because the Fed's power over short-term interest rates can have an indirect impact on the rates paid on auto loans. Those who have previously purchased a car with a fixed-rate loan should be unaffected.
Increased borrowing prices, like those in housing, may dissuade some people from buying additional cars. Buyers may be able to get a more inexpensive loan by comparing rates from multiple providers.
Higher savings account rates may arise from the Fed's rate hikes, albeit this may not happen right now.
Banks may be hesitant to raise deposit rates, especially if they are loaded with cash.
In the future, short-term interest rates are likely to climb, resulting in bigger dividends on certificates of deposit and other savings accounts. Savings accounts at traditional banks typically offer lower rates than internet savings accounts. Savers can examine the rates offered by numerous financial institutions on the internet.
Certain adjustable-rate loans, such as home equity lines of credit and credit cards, may be affected by Fed rate increases almost immediately.
The 0.25 percentage point rate boost announced on Wednesday may not be a big deal for consumers. Borrowers, on the other hand, may be more stressed as a result of the rate hikes.
According to Fed predictions, the benchmark overnight rate will rise to a range of 1.75 per cent to 2.00 per cent by the end of the year, and as high as 2.8 per cent by the end of next year.
"The cost of that debt is only going to grow over the next couple of years," Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate, said in a statement.
(Source:www.reuters.com)
Higher interest rates may raise the cost of borrowing for consumers trying to buy a home or a car, a trend that is already happening. These higher costs may help to keep inflation at bay by reducing demand and slowing economic growth.
Here are a few ways that rising interest rates could affect borrowers.
Mortgage rates began to climb in anticipation of Fed rate hikes, and they are projected to rise even further now that the Fed has raised short-term borrowing rates.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged to 4.27 per cent in the week ending March 11, up nearly a full percentage point from a year ago and the highest level since May 2019.
Higher mortgage rates can make buying a home more expensive, making it more difficult for some would-be homeowners. Some purchasers may need to increase their monthly payments or hunt for a less expensive house to keep payments at a level they can afford.
Increased borrowing rates may reduce demand for homes, but with inventory at an all-time low, it may be some time before the move has an impact on home prices, according to Domonic Purviance, a real estate specialist with the Atlanta Board of Realtors.
In the short term, home values may rise more slowly, but they are unlikely to fall, according to Purviance.
Car costs have risen as a result of a scarcity of vehicles for sale, and now increasing interest rates may make car loans more expensive. This is because the Fed's power over short-term interest rates can have an indirect impact on the rates paid on auto loans. Those who have previously purchased a car with a fixed-rate loan should be unaffected.
Increased borrowing prices, like those in housing, may dissuade some people from buying additional cars. Buyers may be able to get a more inexpensive loan by comparing rates from multiple providers.
Higher savings account rates may arise from the Fed's rate hikes, albeit this may not happen right now.
Banks may be hesitant to raise deposit rates, especially if they are loaded with cash.
In the future, short-term interest rates are likely to climb, resulting in bigger dividends on certificates of deposit and other savings accounts. Savings accounts at traditional banks typically offer lower rates than internet savings accounts. Savers can examine the rates offered by numerous financial institutions on the internet.
Certain adjustable-rate loans, such as home equity lines of credit and credit cards, may be affected by Fed rate increases almost immediately.
The 0.25 percentage point rate boost announced on Wednesday may not be a big deal for consumers. Borrowers, on the other hand, may be more stressed as a result of the rate hikes.
According to Fed predictions, the benchmark overnight rate will rise to a range of 1.75 per cent to 2.00 per cent by the end of the year, and as high as 2.8 per cent by the end of next year.
"The cost of that debt is only going to grow over the next couple of years," Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate, said in a statement.
(Source:www.reuters.com)