Why you should open a CD now that inflation is rising again
Savers concerned about dwindling interest rates on their money woke up to some welcome news on Wednesday with the latest inflation reading showing an uptick in October. While not a positive development for the wider economy, a rise in inflation could slow interest rate cuts, two of which have been issued in the last three months. Now at 2.6%, inflation jumped from September's 2.4%, coming in higher after September's Fed rate cut and ahead of the November cut issued last week. That's still higher than the Federal Reserve's target 2% goal.
Against this volatile backdrop, savers may want to take a final chance at exploiting this inflation cycle by opening a high-yield savings or certificate of deposit (CD) account. CDs, in particular, can still be advantageous now, despite the wider rate climate cooling this fall. Below, we'll detail three reasons why it may be worth opening a CD now that inflation is rising again.
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Why you should open a CD now that inflation is rising again
Here are three reasons why you should consider opening a CD now that inflation just rose again:
Rates are still relatively high
Sure, CD interest rates have declined this year, with 1-year CD terms feeling the greatest effect. But that doesn't mean that rates are at the 1% mark (or less) from 2020, either. Right now, you could still secure a 4.50% rate on a 1-year CD or 4.85% on a 6-month CD. Even 3-year CDs have rates over 4% currently. But, as has been shown for most of 2024, these rates are unlikely to remain this high for much longer. So you should consider acting now in case the next inflation reading shows a move back toward that 2% goal.
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Rates could fall if inflation drops again
If inflation falls again in November or December, interest rates on CDs could fall again – even without a formal Fed rate cut being issued. If inflation and other economic indicators lead lenders to expect more rate cuts, they may start reducing their CD offers in advance, as is the norm. And Wednesday's inflation report didn't come in so hot that it's unrealistic to expect additional rate reductions ahead, even if they may not be issued exactly when previously expected. Understanding this, then, it makes sense to lock in a high CD rate while you still can.
You'll protect your money until this inflation cycle ends
CD interest rates are high – and fixed. Unlike those on regular savings accounts and even high-yield savings accounts, this fixed-rate nature ensures accurate calculations so you'll know exactly how much you stand to earn upon account maturity. And that locked rate will remain the same even if additional rate reductions are issued during the CD's full term. So not only will you earn a high rate, but you'll continue to earn that high rate and thus protect your money until this inflation cycle ends.
The bottom line
The window of opportunity to open a high-rate CD account is closing, but as this week's inflation reading underlines, it hasn't closed completely just yet. Rates on these accounts are still relatively high but they could fall again due to any number of economic indicators. But by opening a CD now, you'll lock in an elevated rate and add a layer of protection against additional rate volatility to come. Just be sure to only deposit an amount of money that you can easily afford to part with for the full CD term or you'll risk having to pay an early withdrawal penalty to regain access to your funds.
