US Mortgage Rate Climbs to 7.16%, Matching Highest Since 2001

  • Gauges of home buying and refinancing both dropped last week
  • Lack of homes listed for sale has been pushing prices higher
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The US 30-year mortgage rate rose to 7.16% last week, matching the highest since 2001 and crimping both sales and refinancing activity.

The contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose 7 basis points to 7.16% in the week ended Aug. 11, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data out Wednesday. The gauge of home-purchase applications slipped for a fifth-straight week to the second-lowest level since 1995.