General Auction Timing
The following is the current pattern of financing for marketable U. S. Treasury bills, notes, bonds, and TIPS. Treasury borrowing requirements, financing policy decisions, and the timing of Congressional action on the debt limit could alter or delay the pattern.
I. Treasury Bills
- 4-week bills are offered each week. Except for holidays or special circumstances, the offering is announced on Monday, the bills are auctioned the following Tuesday, and they are issued on the Thursday following the auction.
- 13-week and 26-week bills are offered each week. Except for holidays or special circumstances, the offering is announced on Thursday, the bills are auctioned the following Monday, and they are issued on the Thursday following the auction.
- 52-week bills are offered every four weeks. Except for holidays or special circumstances, the offering is announced on Thursday, the bills are auctioned the following Tuesday, and they are issued on the Thursday following the auction.
- Cash Management bills are offered from time to time, depending on borrowing needs. The time between announcement, auction, and issue is usually brief (1-7 days).
II. Treasury Notes
- 2-year note auctions are usually announced in the second half of the month and generally auctioned a few business days later. They are issued on the last day of the month. If the last day of the month is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the first business day of the following month.
- 3-year note auctions are usually announced in the first half of the month and generally auctioned a few business days later. They are issued on the 15th of the month. If the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the next business day.
- 5-year note auctions are usually announced in the second half of each month and generally auctioned a few business days later. They are issued on the last day of the month. If the last day of the month is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the first business day of the following month.
- 7-year note auctions are usually announced in the second half of each month and generally auctioned a few business days later. They are issued on the last day of the month. If the last day of the month is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the first business day of the following month.
- 10-year note auctions are usually announced in the first half of February, May, August, and November. The reopenings of a 10-year note are usually announced in the first half of January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December. All 10-year notes are generally auctioned during the second week of the above-mentioned months and are issued on the 15th of the same month. If the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the next business day.
III. Treasury Bonds
- 30-year bond auctions are usually announced in the first half of February, May, August, and November. The reopenings of a 30-year bond are usually announced in the first half of January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December. All 30-year bonds are generally auctioned during the second week of the above-mentioned months and are issued on the 15th of the same month. If the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the securities are issued on the next business day.
IV. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
- 5-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in April. The reopenings of 5-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in August and December (beginning in 2011). All 5-year TIPS are generally auctioned on the next to last Thursday of the above-mentioned months and are issued on the last business day of the month. However, these TIPS will continue to have a mid-month maturity date. Therefore, investors who purchase these securities at auction will be required to pay the interest accrued between the 15th of the month and the issue date.
- 10-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in January and July. The reopenings of 10-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in March, May, September and November. All 10-year TIPS are generally auctioned on the next to last Thursday of the above-mentioned months and are issued on the last business day of the month. However, these TIPS will continue to have a mid-month maturity date. Therefore, investors who purchase these securities at auction will be required to pay the interest accrued between the 15th of the month and the issue date.
- 30-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in February. The reopenings of 30-year TIPS are usually announced mid-month in June and October. All 30-year TIPS are generally auctioned the next to last Thursday of the above-mentioned months and are issued on the last business day of the month. However, these TIPS will continue to have a mid-month maturity date. Therefore, investors who purchase these securities at auction will be required to pay the interest accrued between the 15th of the month and the issue date.
For more details about U.S. Treasury security offerings, go to:
