The Federal Reserve System raised the base interest rate by 0.25% on March 20-21, to 1.5-1.75% per annum.

This is stated in a press release of the Federal Reserve.

Recall that only in 2017 the regulator raised the rate three times: in December - to 1.25-1.5%, in June - to 1-1.25% and in March - to 0.75-1% per annum.

Prior to this, rates of rate increase were slower - once in 2016 and 2015.

In 2007-2008, the regulator gradually lowered the rate until it reached the minimum level of 0-0.25% in December 2008.

Reference:.

The base rate is the interest to which banks provide each other unsecured loans for one day. The Fed rate affects all. Its increase leads to the withdrawal of investors into US assets, which means strengthening the dollar and lowering commodity prices.