The prime rate is the interest rate banks charge their most creditworthy customers. It’s often used as a benchmark for other types of loans, including variable-rate mortgages and home equity lines of credit.
The Fed changes its target for the federal funds rate depending on what it deems to be appropriate for economic conditions at that time. The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meets every six weeks to consider whether changes should be made to this target range, which sets expectations for future policy decisions by influencing market participants' expectations about when they will need to raise or lower their lending rates in order to keep up with inflationary pressures—and thereby keeping inflation from rising above 2%.
The difference between how much money banks lend out versus what they have on hand matters because it tells us about how much risk they're taking—and whether or not there will be any problems down the road when those loans aren't paid back in full. In other words: if banks aren't worried about being left holding the bag for loans that go bad (which happens all too often), then consumers can expect cheaper credit and more spending power at their disposal!
Credit cards and home equity lines of credit are variable rate loans, which means that the prime rate is connected to the fed funds rate. So if you're getting a mortgage, for example, your loan lender might quote you an interest rate based on that year's Treasury yield (the amount of money it costs to borrow from the Federal Reserve). If the Fed raises its benchmark overnight lending rate from 3% to 4%, as it did last month, then people with loans tied to prime will have higher monthly payments due to this increase in borrowing costs.
The impact on consumers depends on their current balance—the amount they owe versus their available credit limit—and how much they pay off each month or quarter (or even year). For example: someone who has maxed out his or her credit line by paying more than what can be afforded may see no change at all; meanwhile someone who pays down his balance every month but still has room left over in his or her savings account might see higher interest rates because there's less room left over compared with earlier periods when he was making minimum payments only required under federal law.
Other types of consumer loans won't change right away because they're not directly linked to the prime rates or fed funds rate. But they could adjust over time as long-term interest rates rise.
You'll have to check with your credit union or bank to find out what your specific loan rates are and how much they might change. But if you're a credit card holder who uses a home equity line of credit, for example, then don't expect any immediate changes in terms or interest rates.
Other types of consumer loans won't change right away because they're not directly linked to the prime rates or fed funds rate. But they could adjust over time as long-term interest rates rise
Conclusion
If you're a business owner or consumer, the Fed's rate hike this week is just one more reason to be cautious about any long-term investments or decisions. If you're thinking about buying a home, start shopping around now and make sure that you can afford it on your monthly budget before making an offer (you'll want to look at several tax maps in order to get the best deal). And if you already own property in one of these markets, make sure that there aren't any major repairs waiting for attention before signing up for another mortgage!