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Mumbai: The Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut the benchmark <keyword id="20071327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate" source="keywords">interest rate</keyword> in its forthcoming bi-monthly monetary policy review later in the week as <keyword id="19999652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-inflation" source="keywords">retail inflation</keyword> is still a cause of concern, and there is a possibility of the Middle East crisis deteriorating further, impacting crude oil and commodity prices, say experts. Earlier this month, the government reconstituted the Reserve Bank's rate-setting panel -- <keyword id="19913109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Monetary-Policy-Committee" source="keywords">Monetary Policy Committee</keyword> (MPC). The reconstituted panel, with three newly appointed external members, will commence its maiden meeting on Monday. MPC Chairman RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will reveal the outcome of the three-day discussion on Wednesday (October 9). The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) has kept the repo or short-term lending rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent since February 2023, and experts think some easing could only be possible in December. The government has tasked the central bank to ensure that Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. In the current context, experts feel that the RBI may not follow the US Federal Reserve, which lowered the benchmark rates by 50 basis points, and the central banks of some developed nations, which have reduced the interest rates. "We do not expect any change in the <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword> or stance by MPC. The reason is that inflation for September and October will be above 5 per cent, and the present low inflation is due to the base effect. Besides, core inflation is inching upwards," said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda. Further, the recent Iran-Israel imbroglio can intensify, and there is uncertainty here, he said. "Hence, the status quo is the most likely option even for new members. Inflation forecast may be lowered by 10-20 bps and no change in GDP forecast likely," said Sabnavis. The central bank last hiked the repo rate to 6.5 per cent in February 2023 and since then, it has held the rate at the same level. Icra Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said that given the undershooting in the initial first quarter GDP growth relative to the MPC's forecast and the likely sizeable undershooting in the second quarter CPI inflation print as well, "we believe a stance change to neutral may be appropriate in the October 2024 policy review". This could be followed by a shallow rate-cutting cycle of 25 bps each in December 2024 and February 2025, she added. "The abundant monsoon offers some insurance for crop inflation. The impact of global political developments and geopolitical uncertainty on the growth inflation dynamics remains a risk," Nayar added. An HSBC report said three developments stand out -- softer growth numbers have trickled in recently, inflation has been falling, and the external environment has moved from rate hikes to cuts. "We believe the RBI doesn't gain from waiting any longer. We think it will change its stance from a hawkish 'withdrawal of accommodation' to 'neutral' in the upcoming 9 October policy meeting, followed by repo rate cuts of 25 bps each in the December and February meetings, taking the repo rate to 6 per cent," the report said. The RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent in its August bi-monthly review amid risks from higher food inflation. This was the ninth consecutive MPC meeting, which decided to maintain the status quo on the rate front. Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman, Signature Global (India) Limited, said while the real estate industry, developer community, and homebuyers are hoping for an interest rate cut in the upcoming monetary policy review, the RBI is likely to hold on to the interest rate cuts for the tenth consecutive time. "The apex bank still seems uncomfortable with the overall retail inflation scenario, particularly food inflation. As such, it is expected to maintain the status quo. The recent interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve has ignited similar hopes even in India, but the domestic scenario is very different," he added. SBM Bank India Head Treasury Mandar Pitale believed that the MPC has persistently advocated a restrictive policy until inflation aligns durably towards the 4 per cent target. "With the unfavourable base effect taking the next couple of CPI prints near 5 per cent plus or minus, it will pose a major challenge for MPC to start easing from the October meeting," Pitale said, adding that the MPC is also expected to deliberate upon the global factors like growth-inflation behaviour in developed economies. The government has appointed Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya, and Nagesh Kumar as external members of the MPC. They have replaced Ashima Goyal, Shashanka Bhide, and Jayanth R Varma. Apart from the Governor, the other internal members are the RBI Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy Michael Debabrata Patra and the Executive Director monetary policy department of RBI Rajiv Ranjan. In an off-cycle meeting in May 2022, the MPC raised the policy rate by 40 basis points and it was followed by rate hikes of varying sizes, in the subsequent meetings till February 2023. The repo rate was raised by 250 basis points cumulatively between May 2022 and February 2023.

Status-quo on interest rate likely, say experts ahead of RBI's policy review

<div type="image" title="In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit" msid="114284206" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On September 18, 2024, the <keyword id="19951097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-fed" source="keywords">US Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn <keyword id="22195" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="Orion">inflation</keyword> levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value. </li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value. </li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, <keyword id="173069" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan-interest" source="Orion">home loan interest</keyword> rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Simply Put: Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="19979912" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mortgage-rates" source="keywords">Mortgage rates</keyword> are falling but remain high compared to the rates of the past few years.</li><li>Assumable mortgages can help <keyword id="19907145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="homebuyers" source="keywords">homebuyers</keyword> get lower rates and reduce their monthly payments.</li></ul>Over the past few years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/average-mortgage-interest-rate">US mortgage rates</a> have fluctuated wildly, leaving both homebuyers and sellers scrambling. In 2021, rates fell to as low as 2.1% as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-fed-rate-cut-could-impact-mortgage-rates-homebuyers-2024-9">Federal Reserve</a> acted to keep the economy ticking during the COVID-19 pandemic. But then inflation spiked. To cool inflation, the Fed implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing mortgage rates to a peak of 7.79% in October 2023, according to data tracked by the <keyword id="19904332" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Federal-Reserve" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Federal Reserve" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Federal Reserve">Federal Reserve</keyword> Bank of St. Louis. But over the last few years, some homebuyers have used a workaround to get lower rates anyway: a lesser-known loan option called an <keyword id="23243178" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="assumable-mortgage" source="keywords">assumable mortgage</keyword>. Assumable mortgages let qualifying buyers take over a seller's existing loan, including its interest rate, principal balance, and other terms. This can lead to significantly lower <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword>, making monthly mortgage payments more affordable and saving thousands over the life of the loan. It's important to note that not all loans are eligible for assumption, but ones backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are. 2024, however, has brought some relief from high rates. In January, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cut-lower-mortgage-rates-should-you-refinance-2024-9">rates</a> hit about 6.7% and have been slowly decreasing since. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.2% as of mid-September, its lowest level since February 2023. The Federal Open Market Committee, which oversees US monetary policy, is expected to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-decision-this-week-federal-reserve-powell-inflation-2024-9">cut interest rates</a> at its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/when-is-the-next-fed-meeting">meeting</a> this week. This could lead to further declines in mortgage rates in the coming months. Still, the 2%-ish rates of 2021 aren't likely to return as the Fed remains wary of inflation. So while additional rate declines may ease monthly mortgage payments for some, they won't necessarily make homebuying significantly more affordable for most Americans. For that reason, assumable mortgages still might be the best option for some people to get the lowest rates. Here are the stories of three homebuying couples who secured mortgage rates below 3% since March 2023 using assumable mortgages. They described how they redirected the funds they would have spent on higher monthly mortgage payments into healthcare, renovations, or retirement. <h2>One couple got a 2.6% rate and became the youngest homeowners in their families</h2>In 2022, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-time-buyers-got-lowest-best-interest-rate-assumable-mortgage-2024-3">Grace Lucchese</a> had just graduated from college. Her partner, Mickey Ricard, had finished his military service two years prior. The Gen Z couple had moved into an apartment in Lucchese's hometown of Sudbury, Massachusetts — a town about 40 minutes outside Boston — and found themselves spending much of their incomes on rent. "We were paying ridiculous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rental-market-housing-affordability-real-estate-apartments-2024-1">prices for rent</a>, and our money was going nowhere," Lucchese told Business Insider. "We also have a dog with special needs, so we wanted to find a home with a backyard." <div type="image" title="Grace Lucchese, Mickey Ricard, and their dog at home." height="1701" width="2268" msid="113465770" hostid="261"></div>For the first-time homebuyers, finding an affordable, well-maintained home in their area was challenging. "During our homebuying search, we looked all around Boston," Lucchese said. "We could not find a home that was move-in ready and under $650,000. We put offers on probably seven different homes and got into bidding wars on two." After months of searching and nearly giving up, Lucchese and Ricard finally found their perfect home: a 1,600-square-foot, two-story Colonial built in 1885 with three bedrooms and one bathroom. The home also came with an assumable mortgage. "Our home was originally listed for $429,000," Lucchese said. "When we were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-investing-how-to-negotiate-best-price-down-2023-4">negotiating with the seller</a> and trying to talk him down on the price, they brought up the assumable loan — I had no clue what that type of mortgage was." After learning about assumable mortgages and realizing they could take over the homeowner's 2.6% rate, they jumped at the opportunity. <div type="image" title="Grace Lucchese and Mickey Ricard's Massachusetts home." height="3024" width="4032" msid="113465773" hostid="261"></div>In January, they made a $13,000 down payment and bought the home for $422,500. With homeowners' insurance included, their monthly payments are around $2,100 — about half of what they would likely pay if they had gotten a traditional mortgage earlier this year. Their mortgage term is 26 years. The couple, now the youngest homeowners in both of their families, are using their monthly savings to renovate their home and help cover their dog's veterinary expenses. "Now that our assumable mortgage is saving us about $2,000 each month, it makes the stress a little less because we have the option of having more money available," Lucchese said. <h2>Retirees who got a 2.75% rate say their lives are easier</h2>In June, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homebuyer-got-low-mortgage-interest-rate-assumable-mortgage-save-retirement-2024-7">Brian Sankey</a>, a retired military police officer, purchased a $400,000 home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky — a small town south of Fort Knox — with an assumable Veterans Affairs, or VA, mortgage. The loan has a 2.75% interest rate and 26 years remaining on its 30-year fixed-rate term. Sankey said it was "a win-win" situation for him and the seller. "The benefit of a loan assumption for the seller was that it allowed them to sell their home at a higher price," Sankey told BI. "For my wife and me, it allowed us to get a lower interest rate." <div type="image" title="Brian Sankey on the beach." height="1200" width="1600" msid="113465776" hostid="261"></div>Sankey said he learned about the assumption feature of Veterans Affairs mortgages years ago but had forgotten about it over time. It wasn't until he came across the four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Elizabethtown that his memory was jolted. The home's proximity to an Army base led Sankey to suspect that the sellers might be connected to the military and have taken out a VA loan, making an assumable mortgage possible. He was right. However, getting the seller on board wasn't as easy as Sankey had hoped. "They weren't inclined to do it at first because they felt the assumption process would take too long, and they were looking for a quick sale," he said. "But after about 30 days, they realized that cash buyers wouldn't be throwing money at them and agreed to proceed with the assumption." According to Sankey, the assumption process took just about six weeks from the time he and his wife first viewed the home to closing the loan. "I'm happy I remembered it because it made our home purchase more affordable," he said. "Despite the current market conditions and higher interest rates, my wife and I were able to purchase a larger home with lower monthly payments." A smaller mortgage is allowing Sankey and his wife to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-much-do-i-need-to-retire">retire more comfortably</a>. "I can now use the money I would have spent on high-interest payments to cover living expenses," Sankey said. "We should also have more discretionary income." <h2>A couple is able to pay down medical debts after buying a house in Oregon</h2>In 2022, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/couple-got-low-mortgage-when-everyone-getting-high-interest-rate-2024-3">Amy Yzaguirre</a> was diagnosed with cancer. At the time, she and her son were living in Idaho while her husband looked for a job in Oregon. They had planned to reunite in Oregon after he found one and their Idaho home sold. However, following her diagnosis, the couple decided it was best to be together before the Idaho home was sold. Faced with the financial burden of paying the Idaho mortgage and Oregon rent at the same time, they moved into an RV on her parents' property in Tigard, a suburb about 20 minutes outside Portland. "It was pretty rough, but we made it work," Yzaguirre told BI. They lived rent-free in the RV for months while waiting for their Idaho home to sell and Yzaguirre to recover. Then, they began searching for a home to buy in Tigard. <div type="image" title="Amy Yzaguirre and her husband pose in front of the RV they purchased." height="542" width="720" msid="113465772" hostid="261"></div>It wasn't the experience they had hoped for. "It's funny how an area can be a nice, family-friendly, affordable place to live and then suddenly become overpopulated and much more expensive," she said. They eventually toured a townhome in nearby Sherwood listed for $416,000. The seller's flyer noted that a buyer could take over their 2.5% mortgage rate. "I did the math," Yzaguirre said. "The seller was locked in at 2.5%, so if we qualified to assume the loan, our mortgage would be a little over $2,100 a month versus the over $3,000 we would be paying with a traditional mortgage at current market rates. It would save us over $40,000 in the long run." <div type="image" title="Amy Yzaguirre, her husband, and son." height="3024" width="4032" msid="113465778" hostid="261"></div>In March 2023, the couple purchased the townhome for $418,900. They made a down payment of $48,000 and assumed a 30-year fixed-rate FHA loan with an interest rate of 2.5%. They have 28 years left on their mortgage. The money they are saving each month is helping them pay down Yzaguirre's bills. "Even though I was fortunate to have good insurance during chemotherapy and have excellent insurance through my current job, I still had quite a few medical bills to pay off," she said. "With the extra money we have saved on our mortgage payment, I've been able to pay them down." The family also used some of their extra funds to pay off other debts and purchase a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with cash, covering the full amount upfront Correction: September 19, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled Mickey Ricard’s last name.

3 couples who recently got mortgage interest rates under 3% share how they did it

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday.</li><li>It follows a 50-basis-point rate cut in September — the first cut in four years.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-kamala-harris-election-biggest-moments-photos-2024-10">election</a> isn't the only important event facing Americans this week.On Thursday, the Federal Open Market Committee will announce its next decision on interest rates, and it's likely to be another cut. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch</a>, which forecasts interest rate changes based on market predictions, estimated an all-but-certain 25 basis point cut as of Friday afternoon.The Fed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">cut interest rates by 50 basis points</a> in September — the first cut in four years and one twice the size of the central bank's typical 25-point increments — following aggressive inflation fighting as the country recovered from the pandemic.Fed chair Jerome Powell said during remarks at a Nashville conference in late September that "if the economy performs as expected," it would mean two more 25-basis-point cuts this year. As the November and December meetings were the only two remaining in 2024 at the time of those remarks, that would mean standard-size cuts at both."Overall, the economy is in solid shape," Powell said. "We intend to use our tools to keep it there."There have been several data releases since the last rate cut that suggest the economy is in good shape. September's jobs report showed unemployment fell that month. Recent price index data shows headline inflation has slowed. Real <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gdp-gross-domestic-product-third-quarter-economy-2024-10">gross domestic product</a> rose at an annualized rate of 2.8% in the third quarter, similar to the 3% growth in the second quarter.The last major data release before the meeting held some bad news, but with a catch. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/october-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-nonfarm-payroll-growth-federal-reserve-2024-11">October's jobs report</a> published this past Friday, at first glance, showed a big slowdown. The economy added just 12,000 jobs over the month, far below the forecast of 106,000. However, the data was heavily affected by thousands of workers on strike at Boeing and other companies, as well as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which likely drove that headline figure artificially down and did not reflect a slowing but still strong underlying labor market.In October, 512,000 people in nonfarm industries didn't work because of bad weather, around eight times the previous 20-year October average of 63,000. The unemployment rate — for which BLS said data collection was less affected by the hurricanes — was unchanged from September's 4.1%.Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told Business Insider that October's jobs report "validates the recent rate cut we saw from the Federal Reserve and probably keeps them on their rough timeline with continuing to offer cuts to keep the labor market strong."Meanwhile, inflation is near the Fed's target rate of 2%. The personal consumption expenditures price index, which is closely watched by the central bank, increased 2.1% in September from September 2023, a cooldown from the previous 2.3%. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose at 2.7% for the third consecutive month. The year-over-year rise in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-september-cpi-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-interest-rates-2024-10">consumer price index</a> has also slowed down.A cooling job market and slowing price growth gives the Fed "further confidence in their ability to cut rates without reigniting inflation," Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, told BI.It will take some time for Americans to feel the impact of September's rate cut, along with any upcoming ones, because of lags in industries like housing, cars, and credit cards."Borrowers should understand that 'falling interest rates' are not the same as 'low interest rates,'" Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst, said in a commentary. "Quite the opposite, as interest rates are high and will only decline to 'not as high' as 2024 comes to a close and we move into 2025."Powell has maintained that he will make decisions solely based on data. Despite the upcoming election this week, he has repeatedly said politics remain separate from the central bank."Our job is to support the economy on behalf of the American people, and if we get it right, this will benefit the American people significantly," Powell <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cut-trump-fed-powell-reaction-independence-history-2024-9">said</a> during a September press conference. "It's something we all take very, very seriously. We don't put up any other filters. I think if you start doing that, I don't know where you stop," he added.What are your financial plans if the Fed makes another rate cut? Email these reporters at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:asheffey@businessinsider.com">asheffey@businessinsider.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="mailto:mhoff@businessinsider.com">mhoff@businessinsider.com</a>.

Americans are probably getting another interest rate cut this week — just days after the election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, congratulated Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Governor, Shaktikanta Das for bagging an A+ grade rating in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2024. Prime Minister in a post on social media "X" said, "Congratulations to RBI Governor Shri @DasShaktikanta for this feat, and that too for the second time. This is a recognition of his leadership at the RBI and his work towards ensuring <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword> and stability." <keyword id="20850250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-Governor-Das" source="keywords">RBI Governor Das</keyword> has been awarded the A+ grade rating for the second consecutive year. The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grade the central bank governors of nearly 100 key countries, territories, and districts, as well as the European Union, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Bank of Central African States and the Central Bank of West African States. Grades are based on an "A+" to "F" scale for success in areas such as <keyword id="21364628" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation-control" source="keywords">inflation control</keyword>, economic growth goals, currency stability and <keyword id="22859834" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rate-management" source="keywords">interest rate management</keyword>. "A" represents an excellent performance, down through "F" for outright failure. "Central bankers have waged war against <keyword id="19895000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="keywords">inflation</keyword> over the past few years, wielding their primary weapon: higher interest rates. Now, countries around the world are witnessing the tangible results of these efforts, as inflation has dropped significantly," said Global Finance founder and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo. The RBI has been successful in controlling the larger macroeconomic situations in the country. The apex bank is actively working to push economic growth through its <keyword id="20900764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="monetary-policies" source="keywords">monetary policies</keyword>. The RBI recently kept the the <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword> unchanged at 6.5 per cent after the deliberations of the Monetary Policy Commitee meeting earlier this month. The move reflects the central bank's cautious approach amid ongoing economic uncertainties. Announcing the monetary policy decisions, Das had said that the decision to keep the repo rate steady comes amidst persistent concerns about inflation, which remains above the RBI's target range. RBI Governor Das said that the inflation will moderate from July onwards as the monsoon has improved and global food prices have shown signs of easing in July. The Q1 <keyword id="19999655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Price-Index" source="keywords">Consumer Price Index</keyword> (CPI) inflation for the current financial year (2024-25) is projected at 4.5 per cent. CPI inflation for the first quarter of the next financial year (Q1 2025-26) is projected at 4.4 per cent, as announced by the RBI Governor. India's retail inflation, after breaching 5 per cent in June, softened drastically in July. In line with the moderation in retail inflation, wholesale inflation in India too witnessed a sharp decline in July. The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) numbers is 2.04 per cent (provisional) for July 2024 (over July 2023).

PM Modi congratulates RBI Governor Das on A+ rating in Global Finance Report

The Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has started its three-day monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday. The meeting will conclude on Thursday, when the RBI will announce its decisions on the <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword> and other matters. The repo rate, which has been maintained at 6.5 per cent since it was last increased in February 2023, is widely expected by experts to remain unchanged for the ninth consecutive bi-monthly policy review. Experts highlight that <keyword id="19895000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="keywords">inflation</keyword> in India remains above the RBI's target range, making it unlikely that the central bank will implement policy cuts until inflation reaches the target of 4 per cent. However, the expert added that the RBI may consider rate cuts in the October meeting. Banking expert Ashutosh Khajuria commented: "Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may continue to hold the policy signalling Repo rate and wait for <keyword id="19979707" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Price-Inflation" source="keywords">Consumer Price Inflation</keyword> to decisively fall below 4 per cent, the target rate. For the present, the continuation of the current stance is widely expected. MPC in India may change the stance and rate action by the beginning of the second half of the year in their October meeting at the earliest." The experts also noted that while <keyword id="20196112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="core-inflation" source="keywords">core inflation</keyword> has been contained and commodity prices, particularly metals, have dropped by 15-20 per cent from their 2024 peak, food inflation remains a concern and needs to be closely monitored to ensure stability in overall CPI numbers. The Managing Director of a major bank, who preferred not to be named, told ANI: "During the last policy meeting we could see some voting in favour of a <keyword id="19920203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rate-cut" source="keywords">rate cut</keyword>. At the same time, we could see The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on July 11 said it is too early to talk on the interest rate cut due to the uncertain economic environment and inflation remaining close to five per cent. Considering both, our expectation is that the rate cut cycle may start from the next meeting and no change in <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword> this time." RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had also emphasised in the last policy briefing that food inflation is still a concern and that the regulator is not in a hurry to make a decision on rate cuts. A recent report by the State Bank of India (SBI) also noted that Consumer Price Inflation in India is expected to remain around 5 per cent for the financial year 2024-25, except for the months of September and October.

Repo rate cut unlikely in ongoing MPC meeting, but RBI may change it during October policy review: Experts

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wall Street's biggest banks face a less profitable lending environment as interest rates fall.</li><li>Bank bosses shrugged off those concerns this week and pointed to several benefits of lower rates.</li></ul>Lending threatens to become far less lucrative for Wall Street's biggest banks as interest rates fall. But executives don't seem to be worried — and even spy some benefits from cheaper borrowing.The Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">cut its benchmark rate</a> by 50 basis points to between 4.75% and 5% in late September. The central bank had hiked that rate from nearly zero to as high as 5.25% between March 2022 and July 2023 in response to soaring inflation.The Fed is widely expected to keep lowering rates to stimulate economic growth and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-crash-recession-warning-signs-job-market-indicators-unemployment-2024-10">stave off a recession</a> — while being careful not to rekindle inflation or overheat the job market.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/bank-of-america-review">Bank of America</a> CFO Alistair Borthwick said on an earnings call this week that even if rates drop below 3%, lenders have historically done well in that environment. He emphasized that banks have many levers to pull that can fuel strong performance."We control our client experience," he said, according to an Alphasense transcript. "We control the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-advised-american-express-ceo-protect-brand-name-2020-5">level of service</a>. We control the relationship orientation, we control the pricing. We control our expense. So, there are an awful lot of things that we control through any cycle."Banks also offer a wide range of services, some of which do better when rates fall, even as others fare worse.Citigroup CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-jane-fraser-regulators-occ-frb-consent-orders-asset-cap-2024-10">Jane Fraser</a> told analysts this week that fee-based revenues at her bank rose by double digits last quarter despite rates declining, "reflecting the growing diversity of our earnings mix."Lower payment rates fueled interest-earning balances last quarter, and the bank grew its retail mortgage portfolio and overall loan book, Fraser said.<h2 id="f6b149ca-d5eb-4cbd-81c8-b0e1a7d0bec3">Consumer revival</h2>Falling rates promise to reduce interest payments on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and other debts. But that could leave consumers with more disposable income, which could benefit banks.Citigroup CFO Mark Mason said on the bank's earnings call that inflation cooling and rates dropping <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/big-short-michael-burry-jpmorgan-consumer-inflation-rates-banking-crisis-2023-4">helps consumers</a> and the overall economy, which can reduce loan delinquencies and net credit losses for banks as more people can repay their debts. He said the lender is already seeing more stability with delinquencies improving.Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf said on his bank's earnings call that waning inflation and sliding rates should be especially helpful to lower-income people. However, he reported weaker demand for commercial loans because of economic uncertainty and customers holding off on borrowing until rates fall.Wells Fargo has reduced rates on some deposits and raised them on others, striking a balance between protecting its profits and losing customers.Morgan Stanley CFO Sharon Leshaya told analysts this week that her bank's net interest income would likely decrease year-over-year this quarter. Similar to Citi's Fraser, she highlighted loan growth last quarter, saying "this is just the beginning." She also reported a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-mortgage-rates-outlook-prediction-top-cities-homebuyers-owners-2024-10">steady increase in mortgages</a>, and forecasted declining rates would fuel a jump in refinancing activity.On JPMorgan's latest earnings call, CFO Jeremy Barnum reported a "pick up in mortgage applications and a tiny bit of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-rates-30-year-refinance-applications-real-estate-housing-market-2024-8">pick up in refi</a>," as well as "some hints of more activity" in the banking giant's multifamily lending business.Barnum said the lender was yet to see a material acceleration in loan growth or a surge in investment banking deals. But he said the Fed's jumbo rate cut might have sparked more activity in debt capital markets recently.<h2 id="d11f3f95-7494-42dd-8d0f-a7a52424322a">Stock surge</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-3q-results-dealmaking-trading-resurgence-david-solomon-2024-10">Goldman Sachs</a> was the exception to the rule this quarter, with little discussion from executives on its earnings call about how falling interest rates are affecting the bank. CEO David Solomon said the Fed's first rate cut has raised hopes of avoiding a US recession, which could translate into more economic activity. He added that Goldman's clients were "highly focused on the trajectory of rates" around the world, among other issues.Bank stocks have fared well since the Fed cut, with Citi and BoA both up just over 8% in the past month, Goldman rising 9%, Wells Fargo jumping 17% and Morgan Stanley soaring almost 20%.

Bank bosses aren't worried about lower interest rates — and even see some upside

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My bank has lowered the APY on my high-yield savings account by almost half a percent recently.</li><li>I'm not happy that my cash is generating less returns now, and I don't know what to do.</li></ul>It's never pleasant to receive an email from your bank informing you that the interest rate on your <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/best-high-yield-savings-accounts-rates-right-now">high-yield savings account</a> is decreasing.Unfortunately, like many Americans happy to collect a robust yield on their savings, I've gotten three of these notifications in the last three months as the Federal Reserve has begun to lower interest rates. From August until the end of October, the annual percentage yield (APY) on my high-yield savings account has fallen from 4.6% to 4.2%.I opened this bank account almost two years ago, right after graduating from college. Back in 2023, with inflation still elevated, interest rates were at their highest levels since the Great Financial Crisis, and it seemed like most banks were offering near-5% yields on savings. After paying off my bills every month, I would put the remainder of my paycheck into my high-yield savings account and watch the number creep up.Now, it looks like the days of a 5% APY are in the past. In September, the Federal Reserve dished out a 50 basis-point rate cut, signifying the beginning of the end for high rates. Continuing this trend, the central bank's chair, Jerome Powell, announced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">25 basis-point cut</a> last week, and is expected to slash rates further in the months ahead.Is there anything I can do about the state of my savings account, or do I have to watch my yield erode away slowly? Curious, I asked three financial experts for their advice on this topic.As a famous politician once said, we didn't just fall out of a coconut tree. Context is important. Patti Black, a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management, reminded me that the recent high interest rate environment is a marked departure from the last decade, where interest rates were near zero and there was no yield on cash to be found. So, while yields dropping from nearly 5% might seem like a tough pill to swallow for someone like me who just opened an account in the last couple of years, it's still a pretty good deal when you consider where rates have been in the past.I didn't have a bank account during the post-2008 zero-interest rate policy era, so this was helpful context to have. Perhaps my generation is indeed coddled — first by our parents and now by Jerome Powell's post-pandemic rate hikes.Black also suggested that I switch up my perspective. While a rate-cutting cycle means less return on my cash, it also means lower borrowing costs for a car loan or a mortgage, which is good news for the housing market.But there are other options for where I can have my money sit, Black said. Of course, one alternative is a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cd-rates-certificate-deposit-high-interest-where-to-invest-now-2024-10">certificate of deposit</a> (CD), which is essentially a savings account that holds money at a fixed interest rate for a fixed period of time. CDs generally pay higher interest rates than savings and money market accounts in exchange for locking up your money for anywhere between three months to many years. However, my hands are a little tied. A well-known rule of thumb is to keep three to six months of living expenses available in your bank account as an emergency fund (read: liquid and highly accessible), so it's not a good idea to lock up money in my high-yield savings account for a prolonged period time. I could withdraw my money from the CD if needed, but I'd have to pay back some or all of the interest I'd generated up until that point as a penalty.With this in mind, Black said that sometimes it doesn't matter what the rate on the high-yield savings account is — it's the best place to park cash for easy access.Armed with this context, I still wanted to see if there were more ways to put my cash to work for me.Daniel Milan, financial advisor at Cornerstone Financial Services, had some more thoughts on CDs. A three-month CD could be a good option if I were comfortable locking up my money for that period of time, according to Milan.My bank didn't offer CDs, so I would need to open up a new bank account, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some financial experts recommend having <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/how-many-savings-accounts-can-you-have">multiple bank accounts</a> for different savings goals. Searching online, I saw <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/best-3-month-cd-rates">multiple options</a> yielding over 4.6%.However, Milan didn't recommend locking up my money for longer. Usually, the longer the term of the CD, the higher the rate. But that's not always the case in today's market."In this current environment, it makes no sense to go further out than three months on a CD because the three-month CD is paying you more than a one-year or two-year right now," Milan said.Looking at CD offerings from a variety of banks, I discovered that this was indeed true — generally, the longer the CD duration, the lower the rate, especially after a 1-year duration. Rates on 6-month and 9-month CDs were also attractive depending on the bank, but again, my liquidity needs take those off the table.Many of the banks I looked at didn't offer short-term CDs, either. For example, one option offered a 4.5% APY on an 11-month CD, 3.7% on a 2-year, and 3.5% on a 5-year.It wouldn't make sense to move my money out of my savings account without high enough compensation for the lower liquidity."You're not getting paid for that illiquidity," Milan told me.Short-term <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/bonds">Treasury bills</a> are another investment option for higher yield, and they offer more liquidity than CDs, according to Richard McHorter, a private wealth advisor at SRM Private Wealth. A three-month Treasury bill currently yields 4.43%.There's also the added benefit of tax savings, which is especially appealing for McHorter, who lives in California: "If you're a resident of a high-income tax state, I would be looking at Treasury bills."As a resident of New York City, the idea of lower taxes certainly appeals to me. If I were to buy Treasury bills, I would only need to pay federal taxes, bypassing state and local income taxes.McHorter also said that there's a lot of uncertainty about interest rates right now, and they could actually start going back up again. Trump's proposed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-hit-company-stock-profits-hardest-china-investing-manufacturing-2024-11">tariff policies</a> could increase inflation, in which case the Fed would probably increase rates to combat an overheating economy, he said.If I buy a three-month Treasury bill, I can reassess the inflation situation when I get my money back in three months and reinvest it accordingly, McHorter said.When it comes to interest rates and inflation, pay attention to the data and don't try to predict the market with your money, Milan advised. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">Jerome Powell</a> himself has said that it's too soon to say how the election results could reshape markets and interest rates."My advice to anybody would be: just be diligent in reading and interpreting the data as it comes out," Milan said. Watch inflation data and Fed commentary, and base your investing decisions on the information you have at hand.It feels like the market is a bit in limbo as everyone waits for the effects of the election to ripple through, but as Black mentioned, not taking any action right now isn't the worst decision.What's next? For starters, I'm going to sit down and crunch some numbers for what three to six months of living expenses look like for me and keep that in my high-yield savings account. With the money I have left over, I have some good options.Are you a Gen-Zer who has recently been faced with an investing predicament? Feel free to reach out to Christine at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:cji@businessinsider.com">cji@businessinsider.com</a> to share your story.

The interest rate on my high-yield savings account keeps dropping. I asked 3 experts how to earn more on my cash.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday.</li><li>But the lag in monetary policy means it'll take time to feel the relief.</li></ul>The nation's central bank has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">finally cut interest rates</a> for the first time in over four years. But Americans might not feel that relief just yet. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced an interest-rate cut of 50 basis points, concluding years of the Federal Reserve's aggressive inflation-fighting as the US began recovering from the pandemic. It followed months of some experts and Democratic lawmakers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-timeline-federal-reserve-inflation-powell-economists-forecast-2024-7">calling for the Fed to cut rates to give Americans relief</a>, and their calls were finally answered.While the cuts signal good news for Americans — it reflects the Fed's confidence that inflation is finally returning to normal — it'll take time for consumers to actually feel the effects of lower rates. That's because there's a lag in monetary policy, meaning that it could take months for a rate cut this month to materialize for consumers. Further, rates for the kinds of loans most Americans hold are only indirectly affected by the Fed's moves."The universe of interest rates is one where the Federal Reserve's impacts vary, but the central bank helps set the tone even where there isn't a direct correlation," Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst for Bankrate, told Business Insider.Erica Groshen, senior economics advisor at Cornell University and the former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said in a statement to Business Insider that lower rates will have at least three types of effects: They'll lower the cost of consumer borrowing, similarly make corporate borrowing cheaper, and "people who live on interest on their savings will lose some of their income, and so may reduce their spending."Those effects might not be felt right away.One big area where consumers might experience the lag is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-impact-credit-card-loan-rates-debt-consolidation-2024-9">credit cards</a>. Credit card interest rates are at historic highs right now — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found in a recent report that the average annual percentage rate on credit cards surged to 22.8% in 2023, nearly doubling over the past decade. Michele Raneri, vice president and head of US research and consulting at TransUnion, told BI that "it'll take a while for consumers to realize the benefit" of the cuts."A consumer who is carrying a balance is going to have to pay off the balance that they already have at that higher rate before the lower rate applies to their balance," Raneri said, meaning consumers with credit-card debt will continue to see high rates despite the Fed's cuts.Still, Hamrick said within a day of the Fed's rate cuts, banks will likely adjust their prime lending rates, which will be noticed in credit-card rates "immediately."The Fed rate cuts indirectly affect <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-fed-rate-cut-could-impact-mortgage-rates-homebuyers-2024-9">mortgages</a>, which are generally based on other interest rates that are loosely tied to the Fed funds rate. Homeowners who already have a fixed-rate loan, which make up an overwhelming majority of the US mortgage market, won't feel the effect of the Fed's decision unless they refinance at a lower rate or buy a new home. The situation is similar for people who have a fixed-rate car loan.And when it comes to businesses, rate cuts will have a positive impact on their operations, making it cheaper to take out loans. However, they won't be immune from the lag — it'll likely take a number of rate cuts from the Fed before businesses are able to significantly speed up their hiring and investing, as a single cut won't be enough to make those changes to their business plans.Savings rates will also be affected by the Fed's rate cut decision."Savers will continue to be rewarded for searching for the best rates, even as yields slip from the peak," Hamrick said, adding a "modest decline in yields is relatively inconsequential compared to the decision to save itself."Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at NerdWallet, said in a statement that people will see "impacts on the interest rates that banks pay on savings accounts and certificates of deposit." However, she added "these reductions work against the consumer.""Rates on savings accounts and CDs have been higher than typical in our recent high rate environment," Renter said. "As the Fed cuts initially and moving forward, we'll see banks reduce these rates too."It's unclear at this point how many more times and how low the Fed will cut rates as the year comes to a close. However, it will take time for Americans to see borrowing costs get cheaper, and it could be beneficial to them to account for that lag before making big financial decisions."I would urge people to do the math rather than to just sort of take a signal like it's a traffic light and now's the time to go," Hamrick said.Are you planning to make any big purchases now that the Fed has cut interest rates? How does this impact your financial planning? Share your story with these reporters at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:asheffey@businessinsider.com">asheffey@businessinsider.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="mailto:mhoff@businessinsider.com">mhoff@businessinsider.com</a>.

It'll be a while before you feel today's interest-rate cuts

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mark Cuban tore into Donald Trump's economic plans ahead of Trump's speech in the key state of Georgia.</li><li>The billionaire investor said Trump puts little thought into his proposals.</li></ul>Billionaire investor <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-trump-call-200-percent-tariffs-john-deere-insane-2024-9">Mark Cuban</a> on Tuesday teed off on Donald Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and the former president's broader economic agenda."Next, in the 'what the hell is he thinking list?' is the 10% price cap on credit card interest rates," Cuban said during a press call hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign.Cuban, long a Trump antagonist, tore into the former president ahead of Trump's scheduled economic address in Savannah, Georgia, later Tuesday afternoon. Cuban previously <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-sees-new-democratic-party-under-kamala-harris-2024-8">endorsed Harris' candidacy</a> and has discussed ideas with her policy team."They have a whole policy team. I know when I've had conversations with them, you know, it's always gone back to, let's talk to the policy team responsible for healthcare, responsible for venture capital, responsible for startups — whatever it may be — and I get back a serious, well-studied response," Cuban said. "That's the antithesis of what Donald Trump is doing. He says things off the top of his head that tend to be ridiculous, if not insane."During a rally last week in New York, Trump floated the idea of temporarily capping credit card interest rates at "around 10%." He would need Congress to pass such a law, but it fits within his campaign's broader outreach to working-class voters."While working Americans catch up, we're going to put a temporary cap on credit-card interest rates," Trump said on Sept. 18. "We can't let them make 25% and 30%."Cuban pointed out that Trump's plan exceeds that of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who in May 2019 proposed capping credit card interest rates at 15% in legislation he worked on with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York."I mean, literally, Bernie Sanders suggested a cap of only 15%. So now you've got Donald Trump getting involved in price caps and price controls to a greater extent than self-described socialist Bernie Sanders," Cuban said. "And I think that just says so much about how far Donald has gone to his socialist and communistic tendencies, right? I know it sounds funny and a little bit out of whack, but it's true."In response, Trump's campaign said Cuban "has no idea what he is talking about.""If he actually looked at her failed record as vice president and listened to what she says, he would know her policies will destroy our country and the American dream for hardworking families," Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to Business Insider.While Trump's suggestion caught some conservatives off guard, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a Republican, proposed an 18% cap last fall. The Wall Street Journal editorial board, often considered the voice of establishment Republicans, panned the idea as "a price control on credit.""Why do Messrs. Trump and Sanders think it's helpful to limit credit access and send folks to the pawn broker or leg breaker instead? Card companies might respond by raising fees, which is what happened to free checking after Democrats regulated debit swipe charges in 2010," the board wrote.Experts have said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/business/trump-credit-card-cap/index.html">credit card companies</a> would likely respond to an interest cap by making it harder for some people to access credit."There's no question that with a 10% rate cap, card issuers would put the clamps down on credit while they figure out how to continue making money in this new normal," Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, told CNN.Interest rates are extremely lucrative for credit card companies. A 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found that in 2022 credit card companies charged Americans $105 billion in interest and more than $25 billion in fees.Trump's campaign defended his proposal, pointing out that credit card debt is at a record high. According to the New York Federal Reserve, Americans have $1.14 trillion in credit card debt. The interest rates Americans pay on that debt are also higher now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic."Under Kamala Harris, credit card debt is at an all-time high as wages have not kept up with the pace of inflation," Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "That's why President Trump has promised to cap interest rates at 10% to provide temporary and immediate relief for hardworking Americans who are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford hefty interest payments on top of the skyrocketing costs of mortgages, rent, groceries and gas."

Mark Cuban mocks Trump for going even further than Bernie Sanders on capping credit card interest rates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver the keynote speech at Jackson Hole on Friday.</li><li>Markets expect an interest rate cut in September, but it's unclear how big the cut will be.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-unemployment-interest-rates-economy-recession-soft-landing-2024-8">Interest rate cuts</a> are all but certain this fall — and the top Fed official could soon shed light on how quickly Americans will feel the relief.Wall Street is watching as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivers his biggest speech of the year at the annual gathering of central bankers in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cute-powell-jackson-hole-signal-us-economy-2024-8">Jackson Hole, Wyoming,</a> on Friday.As has been the case with Powell's prior Jackson Hole speeches, he'll likely elaborate on his economic vision and the Fed's approach to addressing inflation, possibly hinting at where the central bank might go next.This speech comes at a critical time for the Fed, which began hiking interest rates aggressively in 2022 and held them steady for nearly a year in an attempt to slow consumer and business spending and cool off inflation.Now, however, after unemployment unexpectedly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unemployment-rate-job-growth-july-labor-market-economic-data-2024-7">ticked up to 4.3% in July</a>, markets expect the central bank to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-september-not-july-inflation-federal-reserve-powell-2024-7">finally cut rates at its next meeting</a> in September.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch</a>, a tool that estimates interest rate changes based on market probabilities, predicts a 65.5% chance the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points and a 34.5% the Fed will go even bigger as of Wednesday afternoon, implementing a 50 basis point cut. The larger the cut, the more relief Americans could feel in a shorter timeframe.Additionally, the Fed's July <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcminutes20240731.htm">meeting minutes</a> released on Wednesday confirmed likely cuts: "The vast majority observed that, if the data continued to come in about as expected, it would likely be appropriate to ease policy at the next meeting."So, the big question isn't whether the Fed will cut rates, but how much. Powell's Friday speech could offer some insight into his approach to rate cuts over the second half of the year.<h2 id="9a91a466-8419-4ab6-872c-b4655e3782e5">Things are looking up for the US economy, but it's not 'mission accomplished'</h2>Austan Goolsbee, the president of the Chicago Federal Reserve, told Business Insider that the Fed has been laser-focused on keeping rates high for so long to combat the economy's "overheating" — but things have changed. "This is not what an overheating economy looks like," he said.The consumer price index, which measures inflation, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-consumer-price-index-in-july-fed-interest-rates-2024-8">rose 2.9% over the year</a> in July, marking the first time inflation has fallen below 3% since March 2021. At the same time, unemployment rose, prompting some calls for the Fed to cut rates and give Americans and businesses relief from expensive borrowing costs on credit cards, mortgages, and other kinds of debt.Powell's guiding principle for the economy has been clear: He will look at the data, and solely the data, to determine the Fed's next steps. While he is always careful not to hint or make promises about what the central bank will do next, markets and economists have closely watched his slight changes in language over the past year to gauge how he feels about the economy.At the last Federal Open Market Committee meeting in July, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-likely-september-federal-reserve-holds-steady-july-2024-7">Powell said</a> that he "can imagine a scenario in which there would be everywhere from zero cuts to several cuts, depending on the way the economy evolves."The key question will be whether the incoming economic data demonstrates continued cooling inflation and a "solid labor market," Powell said during the July press conference. "If that test is met, a reduction in our policy rate could be on the table as soon as the next meeting in September."While Powell and other top Fed officials have reiterated over the course of the year that cutting rates too soon would have consequences, such as another uptick in inflation, the latest unemployment data has shifted the rhetoric because the Fed has to adhere to its dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices.Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, for example, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp500-nasdaq-live-08-19-2024/card/fed-s-kashkari-weaker-job-market-should-open-the-door-to-a-september-cut-Hk1iDUIR0gmOdRVlZgHx">told</a> The Wall Street Journal that "the balance of risks has shifted, so the debate about potentially cutting rates in September is an appropriate one to have."Even with rate cuts on the horizon, Goolsbee cautioned against declaring "mission accomplished," noting there's still work to be done on inflation and unemployment."We've got to be thinking about where we will need to be to pull off what I call the golden path, which is to get inflation down from these epic heights to something like our target without having a serious recession," Goolsbee said. "And so far, we did that in 2023. This looks like a little bit of that magic dust. It has carried over into 2024, but there's weakening on the labor market side, and so we've got to be attentive."

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