interest rates

Toyota cars for sale are parked at a dealership in Danvers, Mass. Federal Reserve policymakers left rates unchanged Wednesday, which should keep down the costs of car loans and other borrowing.

Want To Remodel? Buy A Car? You Still Have Time To Get A Cheap Loan

5:24pm April 27, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

Fed policymakers are seeing more risks that could derail the U.S. economy. For example, China's growth is slow and our energy sector is weak. So the Fed chose Wednesday to keep interest rates low.

An employee prepares to install the hood on a vehicle at a General Motors plant in Arlington, Texas. Federal Reserve policymakers say recent indicators point to a strengthening labor market.

Federal Reserve Decides To Keep Interest Rates Low A While Longer

3:59pm March 16, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

The Federal Reserve decided Wednesday to hold interest rates steady. The nation's central bank is watching for signs of overheating, but for now, says the economy is growing at a sustainable rate.

Federal Reserve Bank Chair Janet Yellen holds a news conference after the central bank announced its first rate increase in more than 9 years.

Federal Reserve Announces Hike In Short-Term Interest Rates

5:54pm December 16, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

After holding rates near zero for seven years, the Fed approved a small increase Wednesday. While that step seems minor, the impact could be huge in 2016 as borrowing costs head up.

Graphic showing U.S. economic indicators

These Seven Charts Can Help You See What The Fed Is Doing

8:13pm December 15, 2015

The Federal Reserve's thinking about interest rates may seem a bit mysterious. But here are some graphs that should help you see where we've been, and why the central bank may be ready to raise rates.

De Desharnais, a homebuilder and real estate agent in Nashua, N.H., stands in front of a house her company is constructing. She says her company had 32 employees at the height of the housing boom, and now only has six despite the industry's gradual recove

Will A Fed Interest Rate Hike Slow The Housing Recovery?

1:54pm December 15, 2015

by Chris Arnold

Many construction companies are still recovering from the housing crash, and while buyers don't seem pressured by a looming Federal Reserve decision, higher rates would make mortgages less affordable.

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A computer screen displays the homepage of Twitter on April 3, 2009.

For Millennials, Rising Interest Rates Sound Like Olden Tales

4:59pm December 14, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

The last time Fed policymakers raised rates, young Americans' lives were different. They couldn't share the news or comment via Twitter on iPhones and iPads because those things didn't exist.

April Thompson makes a purchase at Legacy Team Sales in Ocala, Fla., in September. Economists say October's surprisingly strong job growth will encourage the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates next month. So holiday shoppers may pay more for using cre

Strong Jobs Data Point To Pricier Credit Cards For Christmas

4:23pm November 06, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

Economists are saying that October's surprisingly strong job growth will encourage the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates next month. So holiday shoppers may pay more for using credit cards.