$5.37 billion invested in I bonds at 6.73%

During the six-month period when Series I Savings Bonds had an initial rate of 6.73%, new I bond investments were over $5.37 billion. During the same period investors purchased about $1.04 billion of Series EE Savings Bonds, giving I bonds almost an 84% share of the total during the six-month window.

To put these levels in perspective, the total investment of $6.42 billion during the six-month period was more than the $6.31 billion invested in the entire 12 months of fiscal year 2005.

For the 2006 fiscal year to date, which also includes October 2005, before the I bond was raised to 6.73%, new Savings Bond investments have reached $6.95 billion. Over 80% of the new money has gone into I bonds and about 21% of the new money was invested using TreasuryDirect.

If you're a reader of my book, Savings Bond Advisor, you have access to an online graph showing the level of Savings Bond investments since Series I bonds were introduced in 1998. Check your Book Notes for the link.