<P> The prime rate does not change at regular intervals . It changes only when the nation's "largest banks" decide on the need to raise, or lower, their "base rate ." The prime rate may not change for years, but it has also changed several times in a single year . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 1990 - 1999 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of Change </Th> <Th> Prime Rate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1991 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2 - Jan - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 - 9.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.75 - 9.00 (BofA) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Apr - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - May - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 - Sep - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 - Nov - 91 </Td> <Td> 7.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 - Dec - 91 </Td> <Td> 6.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02 - Jul - 92 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Mar - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 - Apr - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - May - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.25 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Aug - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Nov - 94 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1995 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 95 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 - Jul - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 - Dec - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Jan - 96 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 - Mar - 97 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1998 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Sep - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Oct - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Nov - 98 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1999 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Jul - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 - Aug - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - Nov - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 2000 - pres </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of Change </Th> <Th> Prime Rate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2000 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - Feb - 00 </Td> <Td> 8.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Mar - 00 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - May - 00 </Td> <Td> 9.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 04 - Jan - 01 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Feb - 01 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 - Mar - 01 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 - Apr - 01 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - May - 01 </Td> <Td> 7.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 - Jun - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Aug - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Sep - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - Oct - 01 </Td> <Td> 5.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 07 - Nov - 01 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 - Dec - 01 </Td> <Td> 4.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2002 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 07 - Nov - 02 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2003 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 - Jun - 03 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Jul - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 - Aug - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Sep - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 - Nov - 04 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 - Dec - 04 </Td> <Td> 5.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2005 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02 - Feb - 05 </Td> <Td> 5.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Mar - 05 </Td> <Td> 5.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - May - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Jun - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 09 - Aug - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 - Sep - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Nov - 05 </Td> <Td> 7.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 - Dec - 05 </Td> <Td> 7.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2006 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Jan - 06 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 - Mar - 06 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 - May - 06 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 - Jun - 06 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2007 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Sept - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Oct - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 - Dec - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2008 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Jan - 08 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Jan - 08 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Mar - 08 </Td> <Td> 5.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Apr - 08 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 08 - Oct - 08 </Td> <Td> 4.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Oct - 08 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Dec - 08 </Td> <Td> 3.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2015 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - Dec - 15 </Td> <Td> 3.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2016 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Dec - 16 </Td> <Td> 3.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2017 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Mar - 17 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Jun - 17 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 1990 - 1999 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of Change </Th> <Th> Prime Rate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1991 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2 - Jan - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 - 9.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.75 - 9.00 (BofA) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Apr - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - May - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 - Sep - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 - Nov - 91 </Td> <Td> 7.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 - Dec - 91 </Td> <Td> 6.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02 - Jul - 92 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Mar - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 - Apr - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - May - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.25 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Aug - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Nov - 94 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1995 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 95 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 - Jul - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 - Dec - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Jan - 96 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 - Mar - 97 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1998 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Sep - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Oct - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Nov - 98 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1999 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Jul - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 - Aug - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - Nov - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 2000 - pres </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of Change </Th> <Th> Prime Rate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2000 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - Feb - 00 </Td> <Td> 8.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Mar - 00 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - May - 00 </Td> <Td> 9.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 04 - Jan - 01 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Feb - 01 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 - Mar - 01 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 - Apr - 01 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - May - 01 </Td> <Td> 7.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 - Jun - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Aug - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Sep - 01 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - Oct - 01 </Td> <Td> 5.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 07 - Nov - 01 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 - Dec - 01 </Td> <Td> 4.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2002 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 07 - Nov - 02 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2003 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 - Jun - 03 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Jul - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 - Aug - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Sep - 04 </Td> <Td> 4.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 - Nov - 04 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 - Dec - 04 </Td> <Td> 5.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2005 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02 - Feb - 05 </Td> <Td> 5.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Mar - 05 </Td> <Td> 5.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03 - May - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Jun - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 09 - Aug - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 - Sep - 05 </Td> <Td> 6.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Nov - 05 </Td> <Td> 7.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 - Dec - 05 </Td> <Td> 7.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2006 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Jan - 06 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 - Mar - 06 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 - May - 06 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 - Jun - 06 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2007 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Sept - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Oct - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 - Dec - 07 </Td> <Td> 7.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2008 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 - Jan - 08 </Td> <Td> 6.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Jan - 08 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Mar - 08 </Td> <Td> 5.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Apr - 08 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 08 - Oct - 08 </Td> <Td> 4.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Oct - 08 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Dec - 08 </Td> <Td> 3.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2015 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - Dec - 15 </Td> <Td> 3.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2016 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Dec - 16 </Td> <Td> 3.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2017 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Mar - 17 </Td> <Td> 4.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Jun - 17 </Td> <Td> 4.25% </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 1990 - 1999 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date of Change </Th> <Th> Prime Rate </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1991 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2 - Jan - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 - 9.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 - Feb - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.75 - 9.00 (BofA) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Apr - 91 </Td> <Td> 9.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - May - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 - Sep - 91 </Td> <Td> 8.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 - Nov - 91 </Td> <Td> 7.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 - Dec - 91 </Td> <Td> 6.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02 - Jul - 92 </Td> <Td> 6.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 - Mar - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 - Apr - 94 </Td> <Td> 6.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - May - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.25 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Aug - 94 </Td> <Td> 7.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 - Nov - 94 </Td> <Td> 8.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1995 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 - Feb - 95 </Td> <Td> 9.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 - Jul - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 - Dec - 95 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 - Jan - 96 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 - Mar - 97 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1998 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 - Sep - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 - Oct - 98 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 - Nov - 98 </Td> <Td> 7.75% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1999 </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 01 - Jul - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.00% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 - Aug - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 - Nov - 99 </Td> <Td> 8.50% </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When did wall street journal prime rate change