USA: Real interest rate

The latest value from 2021 is -1.09 percent, a decline from 2.85 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 1.43 percent, based on data from 106 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1961 to 2021 is 3.67 percent. The minimum value, -1.28 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 8.59 percent was recorded in 1981. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: An interest rate is the amount charged, expressed as a percentage of the principal over a period of time, by the owners of certain kinds of financial assets for putting the financial assets at the disposal of another institutional unit. The real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability. This indicator is expressed as a percentage (a÷b)*100.