Final answer:
The interest rate on civil money penalties varies and is dependent on specific laws and regulations. Historical interest payments by the U.S. government and discussions of interest rate ceilings provide background but do not directly answer the question about rates for civil penalties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interest rate on civil money penalties can vary widely depending on the specific laws and regulations that apply to the penalty in question. It's not possible to state a single rate that applies to all civil money penalties, as rates may be influenced by several factors including the underlying statutory provisions, regulatory guidelines, and the discretion of the adjudicating authority.
For example, the U.S. government's historical treatment of interest payments on its debt can give us some insight into federal interest practices, but this is not directly translatable to civil money penalties. According to LibreTexts™, interest payments on past federal government borrowing were within the range of 1-2% of GDP in the 1960s and 1970s, indicating relatively low interest rates during those times. However, the information provided does not specify the interest rates for civil money penalties.
In the realm of personal finance, such as credit card late fees, companies may charge fixed amounts or daily fees as penalties, which again differ from interest rates on civil penalties. As for consumer protection measures, if a federal interest rate ceiling of 20% were imposed on all loans, it would benefit borrowers by capping the maximum interest rate they could be charged, but lenders might lose potential income or become more selective in their lending practices.