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United States policy rate

The central bank policy rate for the United States from the BIS dataset: the latest level, the recent changes and the daily history since 1954.

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3.88%

Policy rate, BIS

as of 6 October 2026

2026-09-17

Last change

to 3.88% from 3.63%

1954

History since

26,395 daily observations

As of 2026-10-06.

The BIS often publishes several business days after a decision, so a decision after 6 October 2026 isn't in this figure yet. The Federal Reserve's latest decision is on the FOMC meeting dates page.

Recent rate changes

DateNew rate
2026-09-173.88%
2025-12-113.63%
2025-10-303.88%
2025-09-184.13%
2024-12-194.38%
2024-11-084.63%
2024-09-194.88%
2023-07-275.38%
2023-05-045.13%
2023-03-234.88%
2023-02-024.63%
2022-12-154.38%
2022-11-033.88%
2022-09-223.13%
2022-07-282.38%
2022-06-161.63%
2022-05-050.88%
2022-03-170.38%
2020-03-160.13%
2020-03-041.13%
2019-10-311.63%
2019-09-191.88%
2019-08-012.13%
2018-12-202.38%
2018-09-272.13%

What the latest data says

The latest BIS figure for the United States policy rate is 3.88%, as of 6 October 2026. The last change in the series was a rise of 25 basis points on 17 September 2026. Since 27 September 2018 it has ranged from 0.13% (16 March 2020) to 5.38% (27 July 2023).

What this data is

Policy rates for United States

The Bank for International Settlements maintains a single daily series of every major central bank's policy rate, on the same basis and in the same file. That's the source here. For each economy the page shows the current rate, when it last changed and by how much, and the history back to the start of the series.

Policy rates anchor short-term borrowing costs in a currency.

This page follows United States only. The full list and the cross-market view live on the Policy rates hub.

Source and updates

Source
BIS policy rate statistics (daily)
Credit
BIS.
Updates
When the BIS publishes, often several business days after a decision. Last update 2026-10-06.
History
1 July 1954.
This series
26,395 daily observations, 1954-07-01 to 2026-10-06.5,701 observations where the rate differs from the one before, since 1 July 1954.
Get the data
JSON API and CSV download10 requests a minute without a key, 30 with a free key from a free account.

How to read it

  • Count the steps, not the basis points. A bank that has moved three times in one direction is in a cycle.
  • Rate differentials between two economies are what carry trades and currency futures respond to. Pair this page with the COT currency markets.
  • The last-change date tells you how long a bank has held; a long pause after a run of moves means the bank is waiting.

Analysis of what the data shows, not advice. XOOMAR does not recommend buying, selling or holding anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current policy rate in the United States?
3.88% in the BIS central bank policy rates dataset, as of 6 October 2026. The BIS often publishes several business days after a decision, so a decision after that date isn't in this figure yet. The Federal Reserve's latest decision is on the FOMC meeting dates page, /markets/calendar/fomc.
How often does this update?
When the BIS publishes, often several business days after a decision.
How do I get this via API?
GET /api/markets/rates/us returns the daily series as JSON, newest first. History starts in 1954; the free API returns the last six months. 10 requests a minute without a key, 30 with a free key.
What counts as a rate change?
Any day the reported policy rate differs from the previous day. The recent changes table shows the decision dates and new levels.

Data on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. See our editorial policy.