U.S. mortgage rates up slightly in week

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate U.S. mortgages increased slightly in the week ending Oct. 2, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Thursday.

The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.1 percent with an average 0.6 points, Freddie Mac said.

A week ago, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.09 percent. A year ago, the rate stood at 6.37 percent.

At 5.78 percent with an average 0.6 points, the 15-year, fixed-rate average also increased slightly. The previous week's average was 5.77 percent. A year ago, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.03 percent, the report said.

"Average mortgage rates were nearly unchanged during the past week, leaving rates above the levels of two weeks ago," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

"Reflecting the rate uptick from two weeks ago, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that loan applications were down 23 percent last week," he said.

Nothaft noted a decrease in manufacturing activity in September indicated further declines were likely in the housing market. "Consumers are feeling the effects of the slowing economy as well. For example, consumer spending was unchanged in August and revised downward for the month of July," Nothaft said.