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- I Bonds Explained |
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Series I
Bonds Explained (iBonds) Inflation Protected Bonds |
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Earning Rates for Older I-Bonds |
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Series I Bonds
are a low-risk, liquid savings product.
While you own them they earn interest and
protect you from inflation. You may purchase
I Bonds at www.TreasuryDirect.gov and at
most local financial institutions.
Earnings rates for I bonds are set each May 1 and November 1. Interest accrues monthly and compounds semiannually. Bonds held less than five years are subject to a three-month interest penalty. I Bonds have an interest-bearing life of 30 years. When the inflation rate is less than zero, a bond's earnings rate is less than its fixed rate (but the earnings rate is never less than zero) 5/1/13 Update: The Current I Bond Composite Earnings Rate is 1.18% with a Fixed Rate of 0.00%. New Earnings Interest Rates for Older I-Bonds The earnings rate for Series I Savings Bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the life of the bond, and the semiannual inflation rate. The 1.18% earnings rate for I bonds bought from from May 1, 2013 through October 31, 2013 will apply for the succeeding six months after the issue date. The earnings rate combines a 0.00% fixed rate of return with the 1.18% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The CPI-U increased 0.59% between October 2012 to and March 2013.
More about
Series I Bonds
Best Time to Buy I Bonds: Near the end of the month. Make sure you leave enough time for funds to clear. Best Time to Sell I Bonds: At the start of the month since interest for the prior month is computed on the first of each month. You don't earn interest for fractional months so sell only after the new interest shows up in your account, usually the first of the month, I Bond Composite rate = [Fixed rate + (2 x Inflation rate) + (Fixed rate x Inflation rate)]
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