Question

Treasury bills are currently paying 6 percent and the inflation rate is 3 percent. a. What is the approximate real rate of interest? (Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.) b. What is the exact real rate? (Do not round intermediate calculations and enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

Answer 1

Answer: a. 2.90%

b. 2.81%

Explanation:

Nominal rate = 6%

Inflation rate = 3.1%

a. What is the approximate real rate of interest?

The approximate real rate of interest will be calculated as:

= Nominal rate - Inflation rate

= 6.0% - 3.1%

= 2.90%

b. What is the exact real rate?

Exact real rate will be calculated as:

= (nominal-inflation) / (1+inflation)

= (6.0% - 3.1%) / (1 + 3.1%)

= 2.9% / 1.031

= 2.81%