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I Bonds Now Pay 5.51 Percent, the Best Fixed Rate Since 2006
The Treasury set a 1.40 percent fixed rate for I bonds bought from November through April, on top of inflation. Existing bonds get the new inflation rate too.
I bonds bought from November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, earn 5.51 percent for their first six months, the Treasury says. That combines a fixed rate of 1.40 percent, which stays with the bond for its whole life, and an inflation rate of 2.04 percent for six months, based on the rise in consumer prices from March to September. The fixed rate is the highest since November 2006 and up from 0.90 percent for bonds bought in the past year, according to TreasuryDirect's rate history.
Bonds you already own keep their own fixed rate and also pick up the new inflation rate at their next six-month reset: one with a 0 percent fixed rate earns 4.08 percent, and one bought from November 2025 through October 2026, with a 0.90 percent fixed rate, earns about 5 percent.
What to know before buying: you can buy up to $10,000 a year per person electronically at TreasuryDirect.gov. I bonds can't be cashed for the first 12 months, and if you cash them before five years you give up the last three months of interest. Interest is exempt from state and local income tax and federal tax can be deferred until you cash in. With a 1.40 percent fixed rate, a bond bought now will beat inflation by that much for as long as you hold it, up to 30 years, which is why the fixed rate matters more than the headline number for long-term savers.
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