In Norway, benchmark interest rate is set by the Central Bank of Norway (Norges Bank). The official interest rate is the key policy rate, also known as sight deposit rate.
Last month Norway interest rate was 4.5%, and the month before that it amounted to 4.5%.
Interest rate is the proportion of a loan that is charged as interest to the borrower, typically an annual percentage of the loan outstanding. When it comes to the national level, interest rate is a rate at which banks borrow money from a country's central bank.
Yes, negative interest rate can be used by the government as a monetary policy tool to stimulate economy growth.
Growing or falling interest rate can influence the country's economy, stimulate it or lower the inflation level. Even people can feel the effect of interest rate's movements — for example, if interest rate increases, loans get more expensive.