Coverage began in earnest in May 2021 when the 6-month 'inflation rate' of 1.77% was announced (which is 3.54% annualized!). Then, in November 2021 I bond rates doubled to 7.12% and then 9.62% in May 2022! Now, for purchases in January 2023 the rate is 6.89%!
Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 6.89% for the next six months. Series I bonds, an inflation-protected and nearly risk-free asset, will pay 6.89% through April 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday.
November 1, 2022. Effective today, Series EE savings bonds issued November 2022 through April 2023 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.10% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 6.89%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months.
I bonds have a 6.89% interest rate until April 2023. The interest rate will likely change in six months. If rates stay the same you could earn about $701 in interest in one year.
It has been a long time coming, but 2023 looks to be the year that bonds will be back in fashion with investors. After years of low yields followed by a brutal drop in prices during 2022, returns in the fixed income markets appear poised to rebound.
Normally, you're limited to purchasing $10,000 per person on electronic Series I bonds per year. However, the government allows those with a federal tax refund to invest up to $5,000 of that refund into paper I bonds. So most investors think their annual investment tops out at $15,000.
The fixed rate for I Bonds issued between December 2022 and April 2023 is 0.40%.
The basics
The fixed rate of an I Bond will never change. Purchases through April 30, 2023, will have a fixed rate of 0.4%, which means their return will exceed official U.S. inflation by 0.4% until the I Bond is redeemed or matures in 30 years.
Effective today, Series EE savings bonds issued May 2022 through October 2022 will earn an annual fixed rate of . 10% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 9.62%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months.
Inflation sucks, but there is one upside: It's still a great time to buy a government-backed I bond. Series I savings bonds are conservative, safe investments that rise and fall with inflation, and they're earning far more than the best high-yield savings account or certificate of deposit.
I Bond Cons
The initial rate is only guaranteed for the first six months of ownership. After that, the rate can fall, even to zero. One-year lockup. You can't get your money back at all the first year, so you shouldn't invest any funds you'll absolutely need anytime soon.
If you're looking to diversify your portfolio amid the sluggish stock market right now, you might consider Series I bonds as a safe long-term investment with a reliable return. For most people, long-term investing in low-cost index funds is the best path toward financial independence.
In the past 12 months alone, the Fed has hiked rates seven times to combat rising inflation. As of December 2022, the federal funds rate is 3.83%. However, the FOMC predicts that it could continue to rise and peak at around 4.9% in 2023.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced Series I savings bonds — also known simply as I bonds — will pay a 6.89% annual interest rate through April 2023, down from the 9.62% the paid to those who purchased from May through the end of October.
Freddie Mac: Forecasts the average 30-year mortgage rate to start at 6.6% in Q1 2023 and end up at 6.2% in Q4 2023.
1. Most people want to buy in October so they can end up with an interest rate of about 8% over 12 months, after combining the 9.62% rate for the first six months and what's expected to be the new 6.48% annualized rate for the next six months.
If you purchase an I bond anytime from May to Oct. 31, you'll get an annualized 9.62% return for the first six months—that's pretty impressive.
$10,000 limit: Up to $10,000 of I bonds can be purchased, per person (or entity), per year. A married couple can each purchase $10,000 per year ($20,000 per year total).
However, before you go on an I Bonds shopping spree, wait and read the fine print! You must own the bond for at least 5 years to receive all of the interest. You can cash out an I Bond after one year, but if you withdraw it before 5 years, you'll forfeit 3 months of interest.
And for the average owner-occupier paying a variable rate, your home loan rate could reach 6.61% by the first half of 2023. For February (the next RBA meeting) all the big four banks have forecast another 25 basis points hike to the cash rate.
After home financing costs nearly doubled in 2022, some relief is in sight for potential homebuyers in 2023. The interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. is expected to drop to 5.25% by the end of this year, according to a forecast by the financial services website Bankrate.
For the first quarter of 2023: Fannie Mae forecasts the 30-year fixed mortgage averaging 6.5 percent. The Mortgage Bankers Association expects 6.2 percent. Freddie Mac anticipates rates averaging 6.6 percent.
inflation rate can vary. You can count on a Series I bond to hold its value; that is, the bond's redemption value will not decline.