Taylor-Brown’s Year End Interest Rate Review

January 2008  5.75%

February 2008  6.125%

March 2008 5.75%

April 2008 6.125%

May 2008 6.125%

June 2008 6.375%

July 2008 6.5%

August 2008 6.4%

September 2008 5.93%

October 2008 6.46%

November 2008  6.04%

December  5.53%

Whether the interest rate is from January to December or December to January, there is no denying it has been a turbulent year.  Let’s examine the turbulence.

In February, the interest rate surged and it may have been due to the economic stimulus package.

In March, though, there was a sudden drop in the interest rate.  It may be due to the turbulent on the political front. With President Elect Obama, then Candidate Obama explains his continued relationship with conversational Reverend Wright; to Candidate John McCain winning his nomination; to Secretary of Defense, then Candidate Hillary Clinton defending her claim that she was under sniper fire when she served as first lady.  Turbulent was turning into turmoil.

The month of March was topped by April revealing a new high to the interest rate that remained throughout May.  Further, April brought gasoline prices reaching an all time high of $4.00 a gallon.  Still yet, May reveal more disturbing news with Iran being found making active warheads.

June was another month the interest rates increased.  It may have been triggered by more the dismal news from Chrysler of a plan layoff of employees.  The month did have one bright moment when the nominatee for the Democratic ticket was final decided.

Another month of increased interest rates occurred in July. With headline news being Nominatee Obama being named chancellor for German and France surrending and Nominatee John McCain asking aides for assistance in picking running mate.

August was another month of converse with Nominatee Obama picking his running mate as Joe Biden.  Nominatee John McCain chooses his running mate, Sarah Palin. 

September was plagued with environmental woes with Hurricane Gustav and the Republican Party trying to keep the tragic of lack or little aid of Hurricane Katrina from becoming a reality again.

October reveal another attempt to stimulation the economy with the signing of the Emergency Stabilization Act of 2008.  As a result of this failed attempt, the political platforms for both candidates became about the economy and “Joe the Plumber” was the headliner. 

In November, Candidate Obama becomes the first African American president of the United States.  The news of his victory did not stop the stock market from plummeting with the Big Three announcing their need for assistance to keep them from suffering the same fate as the mortgage companies. 

December 2008 came in with the declaration of the US being in a recession and it also brought the discerning news of being in that recession since December 2007.

The turbulence of 2008 is just that for the year 2008, 2009 we have a President elect that wants to bring “change” and I think that American is going to embrace that with open arms.