Fiatmap

Cost of moneyUnited States

Real policy rate in United States

Does money at the central bank’s rate actually beat inflation?

United States's real policy rate is 0.67 % — #26 of 53 countries on the atlas (higher is better). Period 2026-08.

0.67%

Checked 8 Sept 2026Period 2026-08

Source: Fiatmap derived metrics (own calculation from separately sourced components)

Positive: money in the bank in United States currently grows 0.7 pp faster than prices.

Among 53 countries

2 of 53 countries between -2.17 % and -1.86 %1 of 53 countries between -1.86 % and -1.55 %3 of 53 countries between -1.55 % and -1.24 %1 of 53 countries between -1.24 % and -0.93 %1 of 53 countries between -0.93 % and -0.62 %3 of 53 countries between -0.62 % and -0.31 %10 of 53 countries between -0.31 % and 0.00 %4 of 53 countries between 0.00 % and 0.31 %1 of 53 countries between 0.31 % and 0.62 %3 of 53 countries between 0.62 % and 0.93 %4 of 53 countries between 0.93 % and 1.24 %6 of 53 countries between 1.24 % and 1.56 %3 of 53 countries between 1.87 % and 2.18 %3 of 53 countries between 2.49 % and 2.80 %2 of 53 countries between 2.80 % and 3.11 %1 of 53 countries between 3.11 % and 3.42 %2 of 53 countries between 3.73 % and 4.04 %3 of 53 countries between 4.97 % and 5.28 %median 0.63 %United States: ahead of 51 % of the 53 countries with a published real policy rateUnited States 0.67 %-2.17 %5.28 %
Half of all 53 countries sit between -0.15 % and 1.91 %. United States is ahead of 51 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 3 values beyond it sit in the end bars.
Rank
#26 of 53
higher is better
Ranked behind
51 %
27 of 53 countries

vs median 0.63 %: +0.04 pp (better)

The neighbourhood

#CountryReal policy ratevs United States
24 Sweden1.07 %+0.40 pp
25 Italy0.72 %+0.05 pp
26 United States0.67 %—
27 South Korea0.63 %−0.04 pp
28 Israel0.46 %−0.21 pp

Policy rate minus annual CPI inflation — positive means money in the bank beats inflation. Our calculation from separately sourced components.

How to read this figure

Our own calculation: the central bank policy rate minus annual CPI inflation. It answers one question — does parked money beat rising prices? Both components are separately sourced official figures, and we never compute it when either leg is missing.

Next, about United States

Mortgage ratesInflation rateLending rate
Real policy rate, all countries ranked →Compare United States with another country →Everything about United States →Methodology →
Did this answer your question?