Unsecured sources of short-term loans, Personal Finance Problem, John Savage has obtained a short-term loan from First Carolina Bank. The loan matures in 180 days and is in the amount of $47,000. John needs the money to cover start-up costs in a new business. He hopes to have sufficient backing from other investors by the end of the next 6 months. First Carolina Bank offers John two financing options for the $47,000 loan: a fixed-rate loan at 2.2 % above the prime rate, or a variable-rate loan at 1.4 % above prime. Currently, the prime rate of interest is 6.6 % and the consensus interest rate forecast of a group of economists is as follows: 60 days from today the prime rate will rise by 0.4 %; 90 days from today the prime rate will rise another 1.4 %, 180 days from today the prime rate will drop by 0.4%.
Using the forecast prime rate changes, answer the following questions. Assume a 365-day year.
a. Calculate the total interest cost over 180 days for a fixed-rate loan.
b. Calculate the total interest cost over 180 days for a variable-rate loan.
c. Which is the lower-interest-cost loan for the next 180 days?
Round all answers to the nearest cent