THE FINANCIAL DATA DESK

Give your money
a better starting point.

See the latest rates. Understand what a yield really means. Compare the choices for your next dollar.

Official data · hourly checks
Latest published observations · not intraday quotes

FED POLICY TARGET

3.75–4.00%

Federal funds target range

Reported with observation dated Sep 21, 2026New York Fed

3-month Treasury4.17%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

+3 bp vs previous observation

Treasury constant maturity par yield. An annualized market benchmark, not an executable quote, coupon, or bank APY.

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10-year Treasury4.96%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

-5 bp vs previous observation

Treasury constant maturity par yield. An annualized market benchmark, not an executable quote, coupon, or bank APY.

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Consumer inflation3.40%

Reference month: August 2026

+4 bp vs previous observation

Calculated 12-month change in BLS CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted, using FRED series CPIAUCNS. The date is the month measured.

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THE BOND MARKET, AT A GLANCE

What time is worth.

Annualized Treasury yields · percent

Maturity positions are evenly spaced, not a time-scaled axis. Curve observation: Sep 21, 2026.

10-year minus 2-year: +20 basis points. Longer borrowing carries a higher benchmark yield at these two maturities. A longer maturity also brings more sensitivity to changes in rates. The curve is context, not a forecast.

Treasury constant maturity par yields
Maturity	Yield	Change
1 month ↗Sep 21, 2026	3.96%	-1 bp
3 months ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.17%	+3 bp
6 months ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.27%	+3 bp
1 year ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.45%	+1 bp
2 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.76%	0 bp
3 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.82%	-1 bp
5 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.83%	-3 bp
7 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.89%	-4 bp
10 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	4.96%	-5 bp
20 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	5.33%	-5 bp
30 years ↗Sep 21, 2026	5.29%	-5 bp

These are interpolated market benchmarks, not individual security quotes. The coupon, price, settlement date, fees, and maturity of an actual investment determine its yield.

The wider rate picture.

About the data ↗

Effective fed funds3.88%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

0 bp vs previous observation

Observed overnight rate between financial institutions. It is not a rate offered to consumers.

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Secured overnight rate3.85%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

0 bp vs previous observation

Overnight borrowing benchmark secured by Treasury securities. Not a savings-account return.

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30-year fixed mortgage6.95%

Observation: Sep 17, 2026

+19 bp vs previous observation

Freddie Mac weekly average via FRED. A borrowing rate, not APR or a personalized loan quote; fees and borrower characteristics matter.

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5-year TIPS real yield2.50%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

-5 bp vs previous observation

Inflation-adjusted Treasury yield. Inflation compensation is additional; this is not the nominal return or coupon.

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National savings rate0.37%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

FDIC national deposit rate. A broad average, not a competitive high-yield account quote or the rate cap.

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National money market deposit rate0.63%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

FDIC average for money market deposit accounts at banks; not money market mutual funds.

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National 12-month CD rate1.73%

Observation: Sep 21, 2026

FDIC national deposit rate for 12-month CDs. Actual bank offers, minimums, and early withdrawal terms vary.

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New I bond composite rate4.26%

New issues May 1, 2026–Oct 31, 2026

Annualized composite rate for the first six months of new bonds bought in the stated issue window. Later rates reset; not a full-year guaranteed return.

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MAKE THE NUMBERS PERSONAL

What could your cash earn?

Editable illustrations · before fees & taxes

Enter two actual bank APYs you want to compare. The starting values below are examples, not available product offers.

Cash balance ($)Time held

Current account APY (%)Comparison APY (%)

Assumes constant APYs, all earnings retained, and no deposits, withdrawals, fees, or taxes. APY includes compounding. Do not substitute a Treasury par yield or fund SEC yield for a bank APY.

Difference over 12 months$1,750

Additional modeled earnings at the comparison APY

Current account earnings: $250
Comparison earnings: $2,000
Comparison ending balance: $52,000

INCOME TARGET

How much principal would it take?

Monthly income goal ($)Assumed annual cash yield (%)

$300,000

Illustrative principal = annual income goal ÷ assumed yield. Excludes tax, fees, inflation, capital losses, and reinvestment. Payment schedules vary; this is not a monthly payment promise or a sustainable withdrawal rate.

TAXABLE VS. TAX-EXEMPT

Compare on the same tax basis.

Federal tax-exempt yield (%)Assumed marginal federal rate

5.15%

Illustrative taxable-equivalent yield = tax-exempt yield ÷ (1 − assumed federal marginal rate). Ignores state taxes, AMT, NIIT, capital gains, and differences in credit, maturity, and liquidity. Not all municipal income is tax-exempt.

PUT MONEY TO WORK, WITH A PURPOSE

The rate is only part of the choice.

Explore by time horizon

Start with when you need the money, how much loss you could absorb, and what remains after fees and taxes. These are categories to investigate, not ranked recommendations or available offers.

01 / EVERYDAY ACCESS

High-yield savings

A bank pays variable interest on your balance. Compare the actual APY, fees, minimums, and any promotional conditions.

Access to your money: Usually accessible on demand; transfer timing and bank terms still matter.
What to understand: A rate can fall. Check that the institution is FDIC-insured and your deposits fit within coverage limits.

Compare: Bank APYRead the source

02 / A KNOWN TIME HORIZON

Bank CDs

A deposit pays interest over an agreed term. A fixed-rate CD can lock in a rate for money you can leave untouched.

Access to your money: Early withdrawal may carry a penalty. A brokered CD may need to be sold at a loss if you need cash early.
What to understand: Check issuer-level insurance, maturity, call features, renewal rules, and the effective yield after fees.

Compare: APY, term & withdrawal penaltyRead the source

03 / SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT DEBT

Treasury bills

Bills are bought at a discount or at par and pay face value at maturity. Use the actual auction or trade yield when comparing.

Access to your money: Match the maturity to your spending date. A sale before maturity has price risk; TreasuryDirect sales require transfer to a broker.
What to understand: Future reinvestment rates can be lower. Interest is federally taxable but exempt from state and local income tax.

Compare: Investment yield & maturityRead the source

04 / BROKERAGE CASH

Money market funds

A mutual fund invests in short-term instruments. Government, Treasury, prime, and municipal funds have different holdings and risks.

Access to your money: Redemption and settlement timing depend on the fund and brokerage. Read liquidity terms and applicable fees.
What to understand: Not an FDIC-insured bank deposit. The yield changes and losses are possible. A money market deposit account is a different product.

Compare: 7-day yield, fees & holdingsRead the source

05 / STAGGERED MATURITIES

Treasury or CD ladders

Divide a cash allocation across several maturity dates, creating scheduled opportunities to spend or reinvest.

Access to your money: Each rung becomes available at maturity. Selling a bond or brokered CD early may produce a loss.
What to understand: A ladder does not remove inflation or reinvestment risk. Keep cash for expenses that cannot wait.

Compare: Cash-flow dates & all-in yieldRead the source

06 / INFLATION SENSITIVITY

I bonds & TIPS

I bonds adjust their composite rate every six months. TIPS adjust principal with inflation and trade in the bond market.

Access to your money: I bonds cannot ordinarily be redeemed for 12 months and lose the last three months of interest if redeemed before five years.
What to understand: New I bond purchases have annual limits. TIPS can fall in market value before maturity. Their real yield is not a nominal payout.

Compare: Issue window or real yieldRead the source

07 / PORTFOLIO INCOME

Bond & municipal funds

A fund holds a portfolio of bonds and may distribute income. Municipal income can have tax advantages, depending on the bond and your situation.

Access to your money: Open-end funds and listed ETFs offer different trading mechanics. The portfolio generally does not mature on your spending date.
What to understand: Interest-rate, credit, liquidity, and tax risks remain. Yield is not total return; a distribution can accompany a falling share price.

Compare: SEC yield, duration & credit qualityRead the source

08 / LONG-TERM GROWTH

Diversified stock funds

Ownership in businesses can produce dividends and capital growth over time. Diversification spreads exposure across holdings.

Access to your money: Trading access does not guarantee a good price when you need to sell. Match the investment to a long enough horizon.
What to understand: Prices and dividends can fall. A high dividend yield is not a savings rate, and historical returns do not promise future results.

Compare: Total return, fees & diversificationRead the source

Before you move the money.

Separate spending money from investment money. An emergency reserve has a different job from a long-term portfolio.
Check the exact product. Bank deposits, money market funds, bond funds, and individual bonds have different protections.
Read the whole quote. APY, 7-day yield, SEC yield, coupon, and yield to maturity measure different things.
Compare the after-tax outcome. Credit quality, early-exit costs, inflation, and fees can matter more than a slightly higher headline yield.

Discuss my cash & income plan

BEFORE THE NEXT HEADLINE

Dates worth watching.

Full economic calendar

Federal ReserveSep 23, 2026Fed appearance

Fed Governor Barr: Housing

10:05 AM EDT

U.S. TreasurySep 23, 2026Treasury auctions

1-Year 10-Month Treasury note · noncompetitive deadline

11:00 AM EDT

U.S. TreasurySep 23, 2026Treasury auctions

5-Year Treasury note · noncompetitive deadline

12:00 PM EDT

Sources, dates & how updates work

We check the original data feeds hourly. Publishers update on their own schedules, usually on business days. Observation dates can differ from retrieval dates. If a source fails, its last successful data remain visible with their original dates. Treasury yields and overnight rates are benchmarks, not offers to buy or sell.

Treasury yields · Federal Reserve / FRED ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

New York Fed · fed funds & target range ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

New York Fed · SOFR ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Freddie Mac · FRED mortgage average ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Bureau of Labor Statistics · FRED CPI ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

FDIC · national deposit rates ↗Source available · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

TreasuryDirect · I bonds ↗Using last available data · retrieved Sep 19, 2026Latest check unsuccessful. The displayed observation dates still apply.

Daily figures are shown as published, including missing dates for holidays. Change is measured against the preceding available observation. One basis point equals 0.01 percentage point. CPI is a calculated annual change; mortgage figures are weekly averages. FDIC deposit figures are national averages, not “best available” rates. Calendar times are Eastern unless you choose UTC. Official schedules can change.

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