Treasury Sets Series I Bond Rate at 5.51% Through April 2027

The U.S. Department of the Treasury set the annual rate for newly purchased Series I savings bonds at 5.51% beginning Nov. 1, above the 4.26% rate available through Oct. 31.

The new rate applies to purchases from Nov. 1 through April 30, 2027. It combines a 4.08% variable portion tied to inflation with a 1.40% fixed rate. Treasury set the previous fixed rate at 0.90% in April 2026. The new fixed rate is the highest since 2006.

An I bond’s fixed rate stays the same for as long as its owner holds the bond. The variable portion changes every six months based on consumer price data. Existing holders receive variable-rate updates on six-month schedules tied to their purchase dates.

Consumer prices rose 3.7% in September 2026 from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August. The new I bond rate remains below the 9.62% record reached in May 2022 during a surge in post-pandemic inflation.

Buyers must hold I bonds for at least one year before cashing them in. Redeeming a bond before five years means forfeiting its last three months of interest. Bonds can earn interest for up to 30 years.