It's important to know how much interest you earn on your savings. This helps you to project where your financial standing is in the future. This is often necessary, as in saving for retirement. It's a good idea to understand how financial institutions determine their interest rates.

There are so many factors that affect interest rates. The Federal Reserve lowers and raises the short-term interest rates in order to stabilize our nation's financial system. Economic ups and downs are monitored by the Fed on a routine basis.

Rates are raised during good times, called economic expansions. This helps keep the economy from growing too fast and suffering from inflation. Inflation occurs when prices rise on goods and services. The idea behind raising the rates is that lending becomes more expensive. Businesses and individuals will therefore spend less and save more.

When the economy is slowing down, or contracting, the Fed lowers short-term rates. Lower rates usually result in more borrowing. The economy is boosted by an increase in spending, which helps to prevent recession. Recessions occur when consumers stop spending and save their money. Businesses find that they are no longer able afford to stay in business. Employment rates will drop also.

The short-term rates are the rates that banks charge each other to borrow money. When a bank can borrow money at a lower rate, they will lend money at a lower rate. And the same for higher rates. Cuts are raises are passed on to businesses and consumers.

There are other factors that influence interest rates. Crisis and disasters that affect oil-production, even overseas, can have major economic impacts. Long-term rates aren't as easily influenced as are short-term rates, but eventually the impact is felt by both.

What is good for the saver isn't good for the borrower. When rates are high, you will earn a lot on your savings, but if you need to borrow, you will pay more. When rates are low, it's the perfect time to borrow, but your savings will not see high growth.