The U.S. Treasury announced its new rates for bonds issued from Nov. 2011 through April 2012. The rates aren't terribly attractive. Then again, is there an attractive, liquid place to put your short-term cash these days?

Series I savings bonds have two components that determine the final rate: a fixed rate and a rate designed to keep up with inflation. The fixed rate is zip, zilch, zero. The interest rate based on the annualized rate of inflation is currently 3.06 percent for bonds purchased from now through April 2012. This is a drop from the 4.60 percent announced in May.

Double EE bonds issued between now through April 2012 will earn a paltry 0.60 percent, about half the 1.10 percent announced in May.

For details on mature bonds or bonds issued before today, visit: www.treasurydirect.gov. The site has easy-to-use savings bond calculators that can help you evaluate your own bonds.

Rates are set twice a year - each November and each May. Interest accrues monthly and compounds semiannually. You must hold the bonds for five or more years, or get hit with a three month interest penalty.