Slashing government interest rates could have the paradoxical effect of raising the interest rates paid in the real world.

With the Federal Reserve's July meeting on the horizon, many prospective homebuyers and homeowners are wondering what it could mean for mortgage rates. After years of relatively high borrowing costs, even the slightest dip could open doors for those hoping to buy or refinance. But the path forward is far from clear.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages don’t move in tandem with the Fed’s benchmark, but instead generally track with the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds, which are influenced by a variety of ...

Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen is a former Treasury Secretary, former head of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, and current professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley. (Yes, she’s broken many glass ceilings along the way.)

The Federal Reserve doesn’t set mortgage rates outright. But its decisions in setting interest rates do play a role in the percentages lenders offer would-be homeowners. And even if the Fed ...

The Fed funds rate influences mortgage, credit-card, and auto-loan rates. This means when the bank hikes rates, it becomes pricier to get a car loan or pay off credit cards.

Yes, the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates later this year. Or, maybe it won't. In any case, a Fed reduction offers no guarantee that mortgage rates will go down.

For example, she believes if the Fed cuts rates by 0.25%, mortgage rates would likely drop by at least 0.25%. Predicting how mortgage rates would respond isn't a perfect science, though, experts say.

It's the first time since May 2024 that 30-year mortgage rates have hit that mark. High rates are adding to the affordability challenges many Americans are facing.

The average rate on new car loans in September was 7.4 percent, up slightly from the start of the year, according to Edmunds.com. Used-car rates were even higher: The average loan carried an 11.4 ...