Every rate that touches an American household — mortgages, savings, Treasuries, inflation and fuel — pulled straight from government and Federal Reserve data, updated each morning.
If you're shopping for a mortgage this week, there's modest good news: the 30-year fixed rate dropped to 6.65%, down from 6.67% a week ago. On a $400,000 loan, that decline saves roughly $9 per month, or about $3,200 over the life of the mortgage. Rates remain elevated by historical standards, but any improvement matters when you're committing to a $2,500+ monthly payment.
The bigger picture is inflation. At 3.3% year-over-year, your savings account needs to earn at least that just to maintain your buying power. The core inflation rate, which removes volatile food and energy prices, sits at 2.47%—closer to where the Fed wants it. Meanwhile, unemployment holds at 4.1%, and gas prices remain above $4 per gallon.
Bottom line: if you've been hesitating on a mortgage, this week's rate dip doesn't transform the calculation, but it's a small tailwind. For savers, the inflation reality is starker—leaving money in a low-yield account erodes your purchasing power month after month.
National averages from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, published weekly on Thursday.
The short-term rates that set what your savings account pays and what your debt costs.
What the US government pays to borrow across every maturity. Mortgage rates track the 10-year closely.
US Treasury constant-maturity yields, Aug 21, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Inflation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and pump prices from the Energy Information Administration.
Where retirement accounts and fuel budgets get moved around.
European Central Bank reference rates for Aug 21, 2026.
| Currency | 1 USD buys |
|---|---|
| Canadian Dollar (CAD) | 1.3740 |
| Euro (EUR) | 0.8548 |
| British Pound (GBP) | 0.7323 |
| Japanese Yen (JPY) | 158.7000 |
| Mexican Peso (MXN) | 16.8980 |
Every figure on this page is pulled automatically from a primary public source. Nothing is estimated or modeled by us.
Page generated 2026-08-24T07:00:02 US Eastern. Browse past days →