What is interest rate?

Interest Rate


Definition
Interest rate is the rate at which you pay interest to the lender. For example, when the mortgage balance is $100,000, and the interest rate is 6 per cent, one single annual payment will include $6,000 interest. More frequent payments will result in different amounts. Interest rates targets are also a vital tool of monetary policy and are used to control variables like investment, inflation, and unemployment.
Effects of Increased Interest rates in Economy
An increase in the base rate will lead to an increase in the general cost of borrowing, throughout the economy. Also higher interest rates increase the return on saving money in an interest bearing account.

Therefore consumers will be less willing to borrow, e.g. on credit cards and personal loans. Also, consumers with variable mortgages will have an increase in monthly payments; therefore, they will have a reduction in disposable income. This will cause a significant fall in consumer spending, because, in the UK many home owners have mortgage payments, which account for a high % of their income. (This is as a result of rising house prices)

Similarly, the increase in borrowing costs will also reduce business investment.

Therefore with a fall in consumption and investment there is likely to be a fall in Aggregate Demand, or more accurately, AD will increase at a slower rate.

Therefore higher interest rates tend to reduce the rate of economic growth and inflation.

However, the effect of a rise in interest rates depends on various factors.

1. Effect on Savings (income and substitution effect)

Higher interest rates encourage savings and therefore reduce consumption (substitution effect). However, higher interest rates also increase income, for those with high levels of savings (income effect). Therefore, some consumers may actually increase spending. For example, in Japan many firms are currently investing out of savings. Therefore, an increase in interest rates is unlikely to discourage investment.

2. The State of the Economy.

If the economy is growing above the trend rate of economic growth and is close to full capacity, a rise in interest rates will have the effect of moderating growth and reduce inflation. However, it is unlikely to cause a recession because the rest of the economy is buoyant. In the UK growth is close to the long run trend rate.

3. Depends on Consumer Confidence

The effect of a rise in interest rates is sometimes hard to predict. If consumer confidence is high then rising interest rates may not discourage spending; people may just be willing to pay more interest. However, at other times a rise in interest rates may adversely affect confidence; therefore, the effect will be much greater. E.g. In the UK, many are concerned about the booming housing market, they feel the boom could soon turn to bust. A rise in interest rates could be the catalyst to stop house prices rising. If house prices fell it would have a significant impact on reducing consumer spending.


4. Effects on Exchange Rate.

Higher interest rates cause hot money flows, because it is more attractive to save money. Therefore, this will cause an appreciation in the exchange rate. An appreciation will make exports more expensive and imports cheaper. Assuming demand for exports and imports is relatively elastic, and then an appreciation will reduce the growth of AD and help reduce inflation. Some experts argue it is fundamentally overvalued. Therefore, a further appreciation in the exchange rate would definitely not be welcomed by the exporting sector.

5. Time Lag.

It is estimated interest rate changes can take up to 18 months to have its full effect. Therefore, an increase in interest rates now may reduce growth in the future.