Treasury Sets Series I Bond Rate at 5.51% for Nov.–April, Up From 4.26%

3.4 · 1d ago · US · FINANCE

The Facts

  • The U.S. Treasury announced that Series I bonds purchased from Nov. 1 through April 30 will pay a 5.51% annual composite rate, up from 4.26% for purchases made through Oct. 31. CNBC only
  • The new composite rate consists of a 4.08% variable portion based on inflation data and a 1.40% fixed portion. CNBC only
  • The fixed rate rose from 0.90% announced in April and is the highest since 2006. CNBC only
  • The consumer price index rose 3.7% in September 2026 from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. CNBC only
  • The New York Fed's survey showed the one-year inflation expectation rose to 3.9% in September, the highest in more than three years. CNBC only
Dive deeper · 2 more factsShow less
  • The I bond rate peaked at a record 9.62% in May 2022. CNBC only
  • I bonds cannot be redeemed for at least one year after purchase, and redemption within five years forfeits the last three months of interest. They can earn interest for up to 30 years. CNBC only

Context

The Treasury adjusts I bond rates every May and November. The variable portion is tied to six-month changes in the consumer price index and applies for six months from each bond's purchase date, while the fixed rate stays the same for the life of the bond.

CNBC reports that higher inflation in September stemmed partly from the Iran war, which raised gasoline and energy costs, and that economists also cite tariffs, AI data centers and travel demand as contributors. The Treasury does not disclose how it calculates the fixed rate.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

4 Business Analyst A semiannual Treasury rate reset for a niche savings product with limited direct market impact, though the highest fixed rate since 2006 and rising inflation signal modest economic relevance.
4 Policy Expert The Treasury's semiannual reset of I bond composite rates is a concrete, routine administrative action affecting savings bond purchasers, with limited broader economic impact.
4 News Editor A semiannual Treasury rate reset for a niche savings bond product is a concrete, routine announcement affecting a limited group of savers, though the inflation backdrop adds some modest interest.
3 Global Affairs Analyst This is a routine semiannual Treasury rate reset for a niche savings product, affecting bond buyers without any new policy action or broader market shock, though it reflects elevated inflation.
3 Informed Citizen This is a routine semiannual rate reset for Series I savings bonds, affecting a niche group of investors buying bonds in a specific window, though the higher inflation backdrop gives it some modest relevance.
3 Critical Reader This is a routine semiannual Treasury rate reset for a niche savings product, affecting bond buyers in a limited way, though the higher inflation backdrop adds modest interest.
3 Science & Tech Analyst This is a routine semiannual Treasury rate reset for I bonds, affecting savers who buy these specific securities, though the 5.51% rate and rising inflation signal are of some consumer interest.

Source

← All stories