Visualizing Interest Rates Since 2020
In March 2020, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut already depressed interest rates to historic lows amid an unraveling COVID-19 pandemic.
Fast-forward to 2022, and the central bank is grappling with a very different economic situation that includes high inflation, low unemployment, and increasing wage growth. Given these conditions, it raised interest rates to 2.25% up from 0% in just five months.
The above visualization from Jan Varsava shows U.S. interest rates over the last two years along with its impact on Treasury yields, often considered a key indicator for the economy.
Timeline of Interest Rates
Below, we show how U.S. interest rates have changed over the course of the pandemic:
| Date | Federal Funds Rate (Range) | Rate Change (bps) |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | 2.25% to 2.50% | +75 |
| June 16, 2022 | 1.50% to 1.75% | +75 |
| May 5, 2022 | 0.75% to 1.00% | +50 |
| March 17, 2022 | 0.25% to 0.50% | +25 |
| March 16, 2020 | 0.00% to 0.25% | -100 |
| March 3, 2020 | 1.00% to 1.25% | -150 |
In early 2020, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates from 1% to 0% in emergency meetings. The U.S. economy then jumped back from its shortest recession ever recorded, partially supported by massive policy stimulus.
But by 2022, as the inflation rate hit 40-year highs, the central bank had to make its first rate increase in over two years. During the following Federal Reserve meetings, interest rates were then hiked 50 basis points, and then 75 basis points two times shortly after.
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