Bankrate: Savings Yields Flat in '20
Bankrate published, "Savings yields expected to stay relatively steady with Fed on the sidelines in 2020." It tells us, "It's been a roller-coaster ride for rates during the past few years. But after nearly three years of rate increases and then three rate cuts in the second half of 2019, rates are expected to resemble more of a lazy river in 2020. That's assuming one big thing -- that the Fed sticks with its plan to leave rates alone in 2020." Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst, comments, "There's not going to be much catalyst for change ... as long as the Fed is on the sidelines. And the outlook is that they will remain there." The article continues, "At the start of 2020, competition will keep annual percentage yields (APYs) on savings accounts and money market accounts from falling further, McBride says." McBride adds, "The longer the economic expansion continues, the more likely it will actually lead to seeing some higher yields, even with the Fed standing on the sidelines.... Barring that, the continued economic expansion and a creeping higher of core inflation in the back half of the year will provide a little bit of a boost to savings yields late in 2020." Bankrate also writes, "Fed rate changes directly impact savings account and money market account rates. If the Fed's stance changes, the trajectory of savings rates will change too, McBride says.... Bankrate's national average for money market accounts started 2019 yielding at 0.22 percent APY on Jan. 2, peaked at 0.25 percent APY in late April (holding steady into June) before ending 2019 at 0.21 percent APY.... Money market account and savings account yields on the absolute top-yielding nationally available accounts are expected to be around 2.25 percent APY, McBride says."
