Fixed mortgage interest rates continue to climb

Fixed mortgage interest rates have risen for the third straight week, according to McLean-based Freddie Mac.

This marks the third straight week of  mortgage rates moving higher. reversing a trend  of  record lows for 13 of 14 weeks.

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey for this week showed:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (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. 

• 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 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,” Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac, said in a statement. “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.“