Mortgage rates drop on weak jobs report

by JON PRIOR

Mortgage rates slipped across all product types following weaker job gains and an increase in the unemployment rate, according to the Freddie Mac market survey.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.51% with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 14, down 9 basis points from the week before. One year ago, the rate was 4.57%.

The 15-year FRM averaged 3.65% with an average 0.6 point, down 10 bps from the previous week. One year ago, the rate reached above 4%.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.29% with an average 0.6 point, down slightly from 3.3% last week. One year ago it was at 3.85%. The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.95% with an average 0.5 point, a decrease of 6 bps from last week.

Last week, the Labor Department showed only 18,000 jobs were created in June, and the unemployment rate climbed to 9.2%.

"Long-term bond yields and mortgage rates fell this week following a weak employment report," said Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft. "In addition, employee wages stagnated. These factors may lead to less consumer spending, which in turn, reduces the threat of inflation in the near term."

URL to the original article: http://www.housingwire.com/2011/07/14/mortgage-rates-drop-on-weak-jobs-report

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