Question: Go to the Federal Reserve Web site at www.federalreserve.gov and find the most recent information on prime versus commercial paper rates using the following steps. Click on "Selected Interest Rates" and then on the most recent date. This will bring up the relevant data ("Commercial Paper, Nonfinancial, 3-Month" and "Bank prime loan").
1. By how much have the prime rate and commercial paper rate changed since June 2010?
2. Calculate the average spread between the prime rate and the commercial paper rate over the last year. How does this compare to the spread seen in the fall of 2008?