The Federal Reserve took the widely expected step Wednesday of announcing its first interest rate cut in years, a move that will have a major impact on the finances of Americans across the board, making borrowing cheaper, though the golden days of high-yield savings instruments may be over.

Key Facts

• The Fed’s policy-setting committee cut the federal funds rate by 50 basis points, the more aggressive move as consensus was split between a 25 or 50 basis-point cut.

• It’s the first cut to the federal funds rate since March 2020, bringing rates down to 4.75% to 5% from the 5.25% to 5.5% range they’ve sat since last July, the highest rates had been since 2001.

• The Fed pivot follows the continued moderation of inflation, which caused rates to spike in the first place.

What Do Fed Rate Cuts Do?

The Fed only officially controls the federal funds rate,

which determines the interest charged in overnight cash reserve transactions between banks. But

the central bank’s rate decisions affect borrowing costs across the board, as lenders typically set rates based upon the Fed-determined range, and rate cuts will more broadly ripple throughout the economy

as well.

Here are some of the most tangible ways rate cuts will impact everyday Amerians.

Housing

Mortgages pose perhaps the most obvious jolt for consumers from rate cuts, as mortgage rates are tightly linked to yields for government bonds, which in turn are a reflection of the Fed’s monetary policy. Mortgage rates already hit a 19-month low last week of 6.2% on 30-year fixed loans, as brokers braced for the impending rate cuts, and it’s likely the downward descent will continue as the Fed prepares

to further cut rates.

Car Loans

Consumer loans will get cheaper with lower Fed rates, including auto loans, which sit now at their most expensive rate since 2001, up from 2021’s sub-5% rate for new car loans to about 8.7%. The cost of other debt like variable-rate private student loans and credit card interest should also come down.

Job Market

Companies will also reap the benefits of more accessible credit. Lower rates are typically associated with friendlier hiring as employers’ bottom lines get a boost from cheaper borrowing costs.

Savings

Perhaps the most materially negative change from rate cuts for Americans’ finances is that the high-yield savings accounts, certificate of deposit accounts, and money-market funds, which offered enticing returns for savers over the last two years, will lose some of their luster. Those are tightly linked to the federal funds rate, meaning yields for those accounts will quickly fall as the Fed cuts.

How Rate Cuts Impact Stocks

Rate cuts are typically considered a boon for stocks, as money gets pulled away from lower-yielding government bonds and money market funds, leaving investors searching for more enticing returns. The U.S. benchmark S&P 500 stock index has gained 86% of the time in the 12 months after the first rate cut in a cycle dating back to 1929, according to Charles Schwab.