Last week the Federal Reserve issued another rate hike, just months after its December rate increase.  The recent hike has increased the Fed’s discount rate — also known as its primary credit rate — by 0.25%, up to 1.50%. Effective as of March 16, 2017, this will increase the rate of statutory interest in appraisal cases to 6.50%, compounded quarterly, as the appraisal statute sets interest at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate.