Are You Earning Top Bank CD Rates?

Bank CD rates are moving higher as the Federalcontinue to raise Fed Funds rates if it hopes to at
Reserve Bank continues it's "measured" effort toleast slow down the increase in the inflation rate, it
control inflation by raising the Federal Funds rate. Themeans that investors in bank certificates of deposit
US economy is still growing at a reported 4%-5%will be recieving more income from their CD
rate and is beginning to show increases in the inflationinvestments than over the past few years.
rate, especially in the food and energy sectors, whichAlan Greenspan and company held interest rates at
the government manages to leave out of the coreartificially low levels for too long, flooded the world
CPI calculations.with dollars, and now the financial imbalances that
Government economists seem to believe that if theythese policies created have to be addressed. The
just leave out the costs of food and energy pricesmarket will eventually see to that.
increases in those important areas won't effect youThis is good news for long suffering certificate of
and the rest of the US population. Obviously that'sdeposit investors. Bank CD rates at artificially low
strange thinking. However, the US government hasrates have been punishing to the nations CD
made sure that their government economists useinvestors, especially those who are retired and look
creative calculation methods over the years whichto CD interest income to help them to meet daily
has tended to show better performance for the USliving expenses.
economy than would be the case with previousProbably CD rates will trend higher for the next few
calculation meathods.years. The unfortunate thing is that while you as a
With commodity prices, especially metals like copper,CD investor will receive more CD interest income you
gold, lead, tin, and zinc, and crude oil soaring to allwill also be paying higher prices for just about
time highs on increased world demand, especiallyeverything that you must purchase. But at least with
from rapidily developing countries like China and India,additional certificate of deposit investment income
there is the strong probability that interest rates willbeing earned there will be more income to offset the
at some point react to inflationary pressures andhigher expenses.
surprise on the upside as this business cycleWhile you as a CD deposit certificate investor will
progresses.benefit as CD rates move higher you should not get
It appears that it is already too late to head off a alazy and just go along with the ride. What may seem
serious dose of inflation no matter what the USlike small differences in CD rates offered by
Federal Reserve Bank does from here. The US hascompeting banks may actually amount to significant
flooded the world with US dollars for too long andpercentage differences in overall certificate of
the financial trade and deficit imbalances are toodeposit returns.
great. There is a high risk that the US Dollar is inBy switching your CD investment to a FDIC bank
danger of a sharp decline at some point, which willpaying higher CD rates (HINT: Internet banks have
only increase inflationary pressures in the US. Holdfar lower operating costs than traditional banks and
onto your hats, folks, you haven't seen anything yet.can afford to pay higher CD rates ) you can achieve
As bank CD rates are directly tied to the Federalhigher income for a minimum amount of effort.
Funds rate, and the Federal Reserve will have to