Interest rates explained

Explore how the Fed keeps the economy on track through monetary policy, and how its moves ultimately ripple outward.

The Federal Reserve The central bank of the U.S. helps keep the economy stable.

Tools Goals

– Raising and lowering the – Low unemployment federal funds target rate – Inflation ~2% – Buying and selling securities to adjust the money supply

The ripple e ect Fed increases money supply • more money available spurs lower rates • cheaper to borrow • encourages spending • boosts economic activity

Fed decreases money supply • less money available spurs higher rates • more expensive to borrow • encourages saving money • slows down the economy

Highs and lows

Highest federal funds rate: 20% Catalyst: Runaway inflation in 1979 and 1980

Lowest federal funds rate: 0%-0.25% Catalyst: Pandemic in 2020

FUN FACTS

The “10 dollar founding father,” Alexander Hamilton laid the foundation for the Federal Reserve, creating the nation’s original central bank.

The Fed has been led by some brilliant minds. Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen was named by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz as one of his brightest students. Another Fed alum, Ben Bernanke, taught himself calculus in school.

Sources: Raymond James research; TIME magazine; Business Insider; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

© 2021 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. © 2021 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment products are: not deposits, not FDIC/NCUA insured, not insured by any government agency, not bank guaranteed, subject to risk and may lose value. Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 20-BR-PR-0337 ME/KF 2/21