What effect do rising interest rates generally have on loan affordability and savings yields?

• A. Higher loan costs; potentially higher savings yields; overall borrowing becomes more expensive while some savers benefit
• B. Lower loan costs and lower savings yields
• C. No effect on either loans or savings
• D. They only affect mortgage rates

Answer: (A)

Rising interest rates raise the cost of borrowing while potentially boosting savings yields. When rates go up, lenders charge more on new loans and adjust variable-rate loans upward, which makes monthly payments higher and borrowing less affordable on new credit. At the same time, savers can earn more on deposits and other savings products as banks raise interest rates to attract funds. So the overall effect is that loan affordability worsens even as savings yields improve, though some existing fixed-rate loans won’t immediately change payments. The other options don’t fit because lowering loan costs and yields would occur if rates fell, there would be a broader impact beyond just mortgages, and rates affect many loan types and savings products, not only mortgages.