Core Insights - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 4.14% as of December 5, 2025, with the 2-year note at 3.56% and the 30-year note at 4.79% [1] - The Federal Funds Rate (FFR) has a significant influence on Treasury yields, with the current FFR at 3.89% [2] Yield Trends - The 30-year Treasury yield reached a high of 5.35% and a low of 0.99%, currently at 4.79%, reflecting a basis point increase of 380 from its low [2] - The 10-year Treasury yield has fluctuated between a high of 5.26% and a low of 0.52%, currently at 4.14%, with a basis point increase of 362 from its low [2] Inverted Yield Curve - An inverted yield curve occurs when longer-term Treasury yields are lower than shorter-term yields, often serving as a leading indicator for recessions [5] - The 10-2 spread has been a reliable indicator, with negative spreads typically occurring before recessions, leading to an average of 48 weeks before a recession starts [8][11] Mortgage Rates - The Federal Funds Rate influences borrowing costs, including mortgage rates, which have recently declined despite the Fed holding rates steady, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.19% [13] Treasury ETFs - ETFs associated with Treasuries include Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL), Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT), and Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) [14]

This article looks at the 10-year Treasury yield's historical trends since 1962, exploring its relationship with key economic indicators like the Fed Funds Rate (FFR), inflation, and the S&P 500. Fighting Inflation vs. Stimulating Recovery In our next chart, the S&P 500 is overlaid with the 10-year yield's weekly average and the Fed Funds Rate. Generally, equities and treasuries tend to move in opposite directions. When one goes up; the other goes down. However, that's not always the case. During inflationa ...

Group 1: Treasury Yields and Economic Indicators - The 10-year note yield reached 4.11% and the 2-year note yield reached 3.60%, marking their highest levels in nearly three weeks and over a month respectively [1] - The inverted yield curve, where longer-term Treasury yields are lower than shorter-term yields, is considered a reliable leading indicator for recessions, with the 10-2 spread turning negative before recessions [3][4] - The average lead time to a recession based on the first negative spread date is approximately 48 weeks, while using the last positive spread date yields an average lead time of 18.5 weeks [5][7] Group 2: Mortgage Rates and Federal Funds Rate - The Federal Funds Rate influences borrowing costs for banks, which in turn affects mortgage rates; however, recent trends show mortgage rates declining despite the Fed holding rates steady [8] - The latest Freddie Mac survey indicates the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.17%, the lowest level in over a year [8] Group 3: Historical Context and False Positives - Historical analysis shows a false positive in 1998 where the 10-2 spread went negative without leading to a recession, contrasting with multiple instances before the 2009 recession [4][6] - The 10-3 month spread also indicates a similar pattern of false positives and negative spreads prior to recessions, with lead times ranging from 34 to 69 weeks [6]