Money MarketsCalculated (NY Fed)Daily

SOFR–EFFR Spread

What is SOFR–EFFR Spread?

The SOFR–EFFR spread is the Secured Overnight Financing Rate minus the Effective Federal Funds Rate. It compares the cost of collateralized overnight repo borrowing to unsecured interbank borrowing.

Why it matters

A persistently positive SOFR–EFFR spread is one of the earliest signals of funding-market stress: dealers paying up for repo while unsecured rates stay anchored signals collateral scarcity, year-end balance-sheet constraints, or reserve drainage.

How to read prints

When it rises

Repo trading rich to fed funds; funding stress, collateral scarcity.

When it falls

Repo at or below fed funds; ample reserves and collateral.

Frequently asked

What is the SOFR–EFFR spread?
SOFR minus the Effective Federal Funds Rate, in basis points. Compares secured (Treasury-collateralized) overnight funding to unsecured interbank funding.
Why does the spread widen?
Quarter-end and year-end balance-sheet constraints, large Treasury settlements that drain reserves, or genuine collateral scarcity. The September 2019 repo spike pushed the spread above +300 bp.
What level signals stress?
Sustained spreads above +10-15 bp outside of quarter-end windows are notable. Above +25 bp is the historical funding-stress threshold.
How does this relate to the standing repo facility?
The SRF is designed to cap upside in SOFR. A widening spread despite SRF availability signals balance-sheet (not rate) constraints.

Track it on Market Ontology

Monitor SOFR–EFFR Spread in real time on Liquidity Regime, alongside regime classification, transmission mapping, and cross-asset context.

SourceCalculated (NY Fed)
FrequencyDaily
CategoryMoney Markets
FRED SeriesSOFR
Unitbp
Related ModuleLiquidity Regime

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