You may have often encountered the term low-interest rates on TV, newspapers, or on social media platforms. However, you don't possess a real significance of it on the commons. The central government usually sets interest rates based on the demand and supply of money. To recover the economy from recession, the central bank keeps the interest rate low and helps more money circulate in the market. The low-interest rate makes money borrowing low-priced.
With more banks offering loans at a low-interest rate, it encourages individuals and business persons to borrow more. This results in the raising of the money supply and makes the economy strong. However, the low-interest rate can also be unfavourable for the economy and savers.
As a whole, financial experts consider a low rate of interest a good regime for having a positive impact on consumption, spending, and overall economic growth. Get an insight into the blog to clearly understand the positive and negative consequences of lowering the interest rate.
Positive Sides of the Low-Interest RateMore Borrowings From Individual Persons and Businesses
Borrowing seems advantageous for businesses and individuals since they get suitable loans at a low-interest rate. Businesses can get their desired fund cheaply for hiring employees, purchasing equipment, paying dividends, building on acquisitions, and repurchasing shares.
On the other hand, individuals enjoy the benefits of low-interest rates on plastic money and thus can pay back their debt easily and quickly. Hence, the economy gets enough space to experience overall growth.
Easy Financing of Items By the Consumers
In a low-interest rate economy, financial products like student loans, car loans, and consumable goods loans seem attractive. Consumers can borrow these loans at a low-interest rate and pay them off gradually. It will be all worthwhile to make an equity investment to get higher returns.
Reviving Effects on the Housing Sector
With the offering of a low rate of interest, houses or properties seem affordable for salaried persons. Thus they prioritize mortgage payments. This broadens the opportunity for those buyers who couldn’t afford expensive homes other times. These low-income individuals also purchase their first-ever expensive homes and properties at nominal rates. Hence, the real estate sector gets boosted.
Easy Paying Off Existing Loans
When the repo rates remain low, it will be valuable for people who take loans at a low-interest rate. This means their equated monthly instalment also stays low. Thus it will be beneficial to pay off existing debts.
Making Considerable Savings from Credit Cards
Those who have credit cards have to pay an annual maintenance charge. When the consumer gets the card at a low-interest rate, it makes the fees comparatively less. This, in turn, helps the credit card owner to have significant savings.
Negative Sides of Low-Interest Rates
Making Interruptions On Household savings
A low-interest rate might benefit consumers and borrowers, but it will be a punishment for the savers like retired persons who want to preserve their earnings. Lower rates are unpleasant for people who live on interest-earning from fixed deposits, savings accounts, or similar bank schemes.
When the interest rate stays on the lower side, these saving programs will not fetch any fair return. Thus, a substantial group of people lower their spending. Thus the economic condition slows down.
Lowering Returns for the Lending Institutions
When the economy keeps the interest on the lower side, it negatively affects the lending organizations like insurance companies and banks. Since a low-interest rate doesn't attract high investments, it possibly results in a drop in bank accumulation. Banks only provide loans to borrowers with high credit ratings and sizeable assets. Thus, it negatively impacts the bank's profitability.
Artificial Inflation of Asset Prices
In hopes of higher yields, many investors turn towards risky yet profitable asset investments like Master Limited Partnerships or Real Estate Investment Trusts. This results in artificial inflation of asset prices.
Rising of Unemployment
With the low rate of interest, Unemployment rises tremendously. Companies knock off the high-salaried workers to reduce expenses significantly, instead emphasizing hiring temporary workers or contractors at low cost. With the declined wages, middle-class people are not capable of paying for goods prices.
What is the Real-World Experience From a Low Rate of Interest Environment?
Recently, there's been a trend of low-interest rate environs to help the economy prevent deflation and stimulate growth. It makes money borrowing cheaper and allows the investors to benefit the most. Low-interest rates act as both blessing and a curse to the affected persons.
The lenders and savers are losing out on this risk-free environment. During the economic downturn, the lower interest rate stimulates ultimate growth. Since borrowing becomes inexpensive, it boosts the spending capacity of consumers.
Since the rate of borrowing gets increased, banks can be able to provide loans more. Banks will suffer due to their overall decrease in interest earnings. Experts perceive that this low-interest rate trend will continue to bring the economy in a boosted position. Hence, avoiding risky investments and making financial plans more cautiously will be best.