U.S. savings bonds will earn interest at...

U.S. savings bonds will earn interest at a rate of 6.90% over the next six months, the lowest return in a year, the Treasury Department announced. The department said the new rate, which took effect Monday, is down from a 7.17% rate of return earned in the last six months and is the lowest rate since savings bonds earned 5.90% from May to November of last year. Interest on savings bonds is adjusted twice a year, on May 1 and Nov. 1, to reflect open-market interest rates.