The basic premise of Economics 101 is the Law of Supply and Demand, and once you've got that locked into your brain, you're well on your way. And when it comes to money, the same principles apply, although most of us have a harder time thinking of money as a commodity.
Just as demand drives up prices of goods, it also drives up interest rates (the cost of money), while a plentiful supply of money can keep down cost (interest rates) and encourage investment, whether in industrial equipment or in buying a house.
But while supply currently is good (think quantitative easing), demand is slack, as people don't use it (recession). And this is reflected in historically low interest rates. Home loans can be had at 4 percent or less, U.S. government bonds pay only 0.25 percent, and bank savings accounts even less -- 0.8 percent.
So the inherent message from the financial sector is, we don't want your money, we're awash in cash as it is, nobody's borrowing from us. You should go spend your money, and help the economy recover.
Good advice, unless you're unemployed and broke.
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