Fed to keep interest rates unchanged in June: What it means for your money

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, ending its first meeting led by new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh. The decision provided little relief to consumers struggling with rising gas prices and overall affordability challenges.

Donald Trump’s election as central bank chief had previously suggested he might favor lower interest rates, but inflation rose last month at the fastest pace in three years, and rising energy costs could have a long-term inflationary impact, economists say. This likely contributed to the decision to keep interest rates on hold, and experts say the central bank could consider raising borrowing costs instead, contrary to President Trump’s wishes.

“The Fed can no longer claim that it has balanced risks. The problem is inflation,” said Stephen Cates, a certified financial planner and financial analyst at Bankrate.

As cost pressures increase, the prospect of sustained interest rate increases and rising borrowing costs could be another economic blow to households.

“It’s getting harder and harder to buy a home, it’s getting harder and harder to rent a car, it’s getting more expensive to own a car,” said Wayne Winegarden, an economist at the conservative think tank Pacific Research Institute. Some of the interest rates on these products are fixed and not immediately affected by the Fed’s actions, but “if you’re locking in higher rates, that’s just one of the things that’s making life unaffordable for American families,” Weingarten said.

The Federal Reserve’s benchmark, called the Federal Funds Rate, sets how much banks charge each other for overnight loans, but it also has a ripple effect on many consumers’ borrowing and savings rates.

When the Fed raises its benchmark interest rate, it makes borrowing more expensive for consumers and businesses, potentially cooling the economy and worsening inflation, but the impact of the Fed’s actions varies widely depending on the type of loan.

Short-term interest rates, such as credit card rates, are generally closely tied to the Fed’s benchmark. Long-term interest rates, such as mortgage interest rates, are more influenced by U.S. Treasury yields and economic conditions.

For example, most credit cards have variable interest rates, which are directly tied to the Fed’s overnight rate.

“Credit card APRs tend not to change significantly unless the Fed forces them to, and with the Fed unlikely to cut rates, Americans should expect card APRs to remain high for some time to come,” said Matt Schultz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.

According to Bankrate, the average annual interest rate on credit cards has remained at just under 20% since last year.

Savings rates also tend to be correlated with changes in the target federal funds rate. Savings yields have remained mostly stable due to the Federal Reserve’s holding of interest rates, but some have begun to decline. Still, high-yield online savings accounts can offer above-average returns, with current payouts above 4%, according to Bankrate.

“If you’re looking for a silver lining in these rising interest rates, look no further than high-yield savings accounts,” Schultz said.

In contrast, 15-year and 30-year fixed mortgage rates do not follow the Fed directly, but typically follow the lead of long-term Treasury rates and the economy. As a result, mortgage interest rates remain volatile amid lingering uncertainty surrounding tensions in the Middle East.

As of June 16, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.54%, and the average interest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.11%, according to Mortgage News Daily.

Auto loan interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan, and market rates are tied to several factors, including Federal Reserve benchmarks. But as financing costs continue to rise, new car buyers are being squeezed by more expensive vehicles and higher interest rates, a combination that can force them to choose between higher monthly payments and longer repayment terms.

“Until the interest rate landscape changes, buyers will continue to extend loan terms to make payments more affordable, with the unfortunate side effect of accruing more interest over the life of the term,” said Joseph Yun, consumer insights analyst at Edmunds.

With the Fed’s metrics stable, the average interest rate on a five-year loan on a new car is 6.9%, while the average auto loan rate on a used car is 10.4%, Edmunds said.