Intressimäärades

Intressimäärades is a term used in Estonian economics and finance to refer to multiple interest rates and the way they vary across lending and saving opportunities. In general, an interest rate expresses the price of borrowing money or the return on saving over time, typically expressed on an annual basis. Rates can be nominal, stated without adjusting for inflation, or real, adjusted for expected inflation. They can also differ by product, term, and market segment.

Interest rates are shaped by a combination of policy, market conditions, and risk. Central banks influence the economy by setting policy rates, which affect interbank borrowing costs and, in turn, retail lending and deposit rates. Inflation expectations, economic growth, liquidity, and credit risk premia also play a role. As a result, intressimäärades vary across loan types—such as mortgage, consumer, and business loans—and across deposit products, including savings accounts and term deposits. Rates can be fixed for a period or variable and may be quoted as simple or compound interest.

Measurement and comparison rely on different concepts. The annual percentage rate (APR) includes explicit costs and fees for loans, while the annual percentage yield (APY) reflects compounding on savings. Real rates subtract expected inflation from nominal rates to indicate the true purchasing power return or cost. Market observers, borrowers, and savers track intressimäärades to assess financing costs, investment viability, and monetary conditions.

In Estonia, institutions such as banks and the Bank of Estonia publish rate series and provide guidance on how intressimäärades affect household and corporate finances.