Methodology & Sources

What the Rate Cards Represent

FedRateCalc is a manually maintained reference site, not a real-time market-data feed. Each number is a dated snapshot. The source dates can differ because the underlying agencies publish on different schedules.

• Federal funds target: 3.75%–4% , effective September 16, 2026. Source: Federal Reserve — September 2026 FOMC statement.
• Mortgage averages: 7.4% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.73% for a 15-year fixed mortgage, as of October 8, 2026. Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. These are national survey averages, not a rate available to every borrower.
• Federal student loans: 6.52% for undergraduate Direct Loans first disbursed in the 2026–27 rate year. Source: Federal Student Aid announcement GENERAL-26-33.
• CD benchmarks: 1.73% for the FDIC 12-month national deposit rate and 1.38% for the 60-month rate, as of September 21, 2026. Source: FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps — September 2026. These are deposit-weighted national rates, not “best available” offers.

How the Calculators Work

Mortgage calculator. Principal and interest use the standard fixed-rate amortization formula. Property tax and homeowners insurance are user-entered annual amounts divided by 12. PMI, HOA fees, closing costs, changing escrow amounts, and lender-specific fees are not included.

Student loan calculator. The result is an equal monthly payment over the selected term. It does not model graduated payments, income-driven repayment, deferment, forbearance, forgiveness, or borrower-specific federal benefits. Federal loans accrue interest daily, so a servicer's schedule can differ slightly from this monthly estimate.

CD calculator. The input is APY, which already includes compounding. The maturity estimate is P × (1 + APY)^t. The tool deliberately does not apply a second daily or monthly compounding adjustment. Early-withdrawal penalties and taxes are excluded.

Mortgage rate-cut savings calculator. The tool compares two fixed-rate amortization scenarios. It does not predict that a Federal Reserve decision will move mortgage rates by the same amount.

Money, Work, and Material Tools

Added September 15, 2026: the calculator directory groups tools by task. Each tool provides its calculation method, a worked example, linked sources, and explicit input assumptions. New-tool example rates and prices are hypothetical; they are separate from the dated rate cards above.

Savings and repayment models use the compounding and payment timing described on each page. Work tools convert clock times to minutes and estimate gross wages before deductions. Material tools convert dimensions to volumes and use an entered bag yield or bulk density; quantities and budgets do not establish structural suitability. Source links support methods and terminology, not a professional endorsement.

Calculator completion events include the tool name and category, not input amounts or results. A copy action copies inputs and estimates only when selected. Time cards are not saved as payroll records. Advertising and site analytics remain subject to the privacy policy.

Verification and Update Process

• Rate values are checked against the linked primary source before publication.
• Calculation functions have automated tests for known examples, zero-rate cases, term conversions, and total-cost consistency.
• FOMC dates are maintained from the Federal Reserve calendar; rate snapshots are updated separately when their source publishes.
• A visible review date changes only after the data, explanation, or calculator logic has been materially checked.

FedRateCalc is built and maintained by Archie Chang. No financial professional has reviewed or endorsed the site. The tools are educational estimates, not financial advice or loan offers.

Corrections

If a source has changed or a result appears wrong, send the input values, expected result, and source link through the contact page. Reproducible corrections are prioritized.