I wrote a blog last fall that included a chart of interest rates that went back about 40 years. I did this in an attempt to show that the recent increase in interest rates, as well as future interest rate increases, is not a major event when put into historical context. I recently decided to put this into a larger perspective; how about looking at a 220 year history of interest rates?
I found this 220 year chart on Barry Ritholz’s website. Barry Ritholz is a seasoned asset manager. I included the chart below, and it can also be seen on his website by clicking here.
It is fascinating to me to see long term data like this, to put today’s financial numbers into perspective. It seems to me the average interest rate level in this country is about 6.5%, which is a long way from where we are now.
Interest rates were in the mid 6’s around 1789 when the US Constitution was ratified! So it always makes me chuckle a bit when a client is concerned that interest rates nudged up 1/8% or 1/4%, let’s say from 4.25% to 4.50%, when that is so far away from the average level of interest rates in this country.
I understand a client’s need for competitive terms, but I hope this chart helps us all realize that rates will be higher than they are now at some point, and then they’ll be lower, and then they’ll be higher yet again. The economy moves on, life continues, and everything works out OK.
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