Treasury and Agency Securities: Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), All Commercial Banks
H8B1301NCBCMG • Economic Data from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Latest Value
6.90
Year-over-Year Change
-57.67%
Date Range
8/1/2009 - 6/1/2025
Summary
This economic indicator tracks the total value of mortgage-backed securities held by commercial banks in the United States. It provides critical insight into bank lending practices, real estate market dynamics, and financial sector investment strategies.
Analysis & Context
This economic indicator provides valuable insights into current market conditions and economic trends. The data is updated regularly by the Federal Reserve and represents one of the most reliable sources for economic analysis.
Understanding this metric helps economists, policymakers, and investors make informed decisions about economic conditions and future trends. The interactive chart above allows you to explore historical patterns and identify key trends over time.
About This Dataset
Mortgage-backed securities represent pooled mortgage loans that have been transformed into tradable financial instruments, allowing banks to manage risk and liquidity. Economists closely monitor this metric as a barometer of banking sector health and potential credit market conditions.
Methodology
Data is collected through the Federal Reserve's H.8 statistical release, which aggregates reported securities holdings from commercial banks nationwide.
Historical Context
This trend is used by policymakers, investors, and financial analysts to assess banking sector stability, credit market trends, and potential economic shifts.
Key Facts
- Represents total mortgage-backed securities held by U.S. commercial banks
- Indicates banks' investment strategies and risk management approaches
- Reflects broader trends in real estate and credit markets
FAQs
Q: What are mortgage-backed securities?
A: Mortgage-backed securities are financial instruments created by pooling multiple mortgage loans and selling them as tradable assets to investors and banks.
Q: Why do banks invest in mortgage-backed securities?
A: Banks invest in MBS to diversify their portfolios, generate steady income, and manage lending risk by converting illiquid mortgage loans into marketable securities.
Q: How often is this data updated?
A: The Federal Reserve typically updates this data weekly, providing a near real-time snapshot of commercial bank securities holdings.
Q: How do mortgage-backed securities impact the broader economy?
A: MBS play a crucial role in providing liquidity to the housing market and enabling banks to continue lending by freeing up capital from existing mortgage loans.
Q: What are the potential risks of mortgage-backed securities?
A: MBS can be vulnerable to interest rate changes, default risks, and broader economic shifts, as demonstrated during the 2008 financial crisis.
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Citation
U.S. Federal Reserve, Treasury and Agency Securities: Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), All Commercial Banks [H8B1301NCBCMG], retrieved from FRED.
Last Checked: 8/1/2025