The Real Interest Rate, 1970-2009 Data courtesy FederalReserve.gov and ShadowStats.com 12%
Real Interest Rate 9%
By Jake Towne Special Thanks to ShadowStats 6%
3%
0%
-3%
-6%
-9%
In 1990 the real rate of interest went negative...
-12%
01/70 11/70 09/71 07/72 05/73 03/74 01/75 11/75 09/76 07/77 05/78 03/79 01/80 11/80 09/81 07/82 05/83 03/84 01/85 11/85 09/86 07/87 05/88 03/89 01/90 11/90 09/91 07/92 05/93 03/94 01/95 11/95 09/96 07/97 05/98 03/99 01/00 11/00 09/01 07/02 05/03 03/04 01/05 11/05 09/06 07/07 05/08 03/09
... and dropped further.