DXYThe DXY, or US Dollar Index, measures the value of the US dollar against a basket of six major world currencies: the euro (EUR), Japanese yen (JPY), British pound (GBP), Canadian dollar (CAD), Swedish krona (SEK), and Swiss franc (CHF). It is a weighted index, with the euro having the largest share, making movements in EUR/USD especially influential on the index. The DXY was created in 1973 by the US Federal Reserve to provide a clear benchmark for the dollar’s international strength after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system.
Since its inception, the DXY has served as a vital gauge of the dollar’s performance in global trade and financial markets. Historically, it reached its all-time high near 164.72 in 1985, during a period of aggressive US interest rate hikes and a strong economic expansion. Conversely, it hit its all-time low around 70.70 in 2008, at the peak of the global financial crisis, when confidence in the US economy sharply declined.
The index typically rises when investors seek safety in the US dollar, especially during global risk-off events or when US interest rates are relatively high. It also tends to strengthen during periods of US economic growth, reduced liquidity, or tightening by the Federal Reserve. On the other hand, the DXY weakens when the Federal Reserve cuts rates, inflation rises, or investor sentiment shifts toward riskier assets and other global currencies.
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the DXY saw sharp movements. It rallied strongly in 2022 as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates aggressively to combat inflation, reaching levels above 114. This was followed by a pullback as inflation cooled and expectations of rate cuts emerged in 2023 and 2024. As of August 2025, the DXY stands at approximately 93.4, reflecting a weaker dollar compared to its recent highs, influenced by a more dovish Federal Reserve, growing US debt concerns, and rising investor interest in alternative assets such as gold and other currencies.
The DXY remains a key tool for traders, economists, and policymakers to assess the dollar’s position in the global economy. Its movements affect everything from commodity prices and trade balances to emerging market capital flows and inflation pressures worldwide.
