Fixed Mortgage Rates Move Higher For Third Consecutive Week
August 16, 2012
Rising for the third straight week, fixed mortgage rates followed long-term Treasury yields higher, according to the latest Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.62 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending Aug. 16, up from last week when it averaged 3.59 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.15 percent.
"The latest economic indicators point toward low inflation but gradually stronger economic activity which placed further upward pressure on long-term Treasury yields and, in turn, fixed mortgage rates,” said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist for Freddie Mac. “For example, inflation remains in check with 12-month growth in the core consumer price index falling for a second month to 2.1 percent in July. At the same time, industrial production rose 0.6 percent in July compared to a 0.1 percent increase in June and retail sales jumped 0.8 percent in July from a 0.7 percent decline in June."
Meanwhile, the 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.88 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.84 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.36 percent.
The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.76 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.77 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.08 percent.
The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.69 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.65 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.86 percent.
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