Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Retreat on Inflation News

NEW YORK, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fixed mortgage rates broke a string of four consecutive increases, dipping this week in response to favorable news on the inflation front. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate slid to 6.29 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the 30-year fixed rate mortgages had an average of 0.27 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage, popular for refinancing, inched lower to 6.02 percent. With larger loans, the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate nosed higher to 6.59 percent. On adjustable rate mortgages, the average 5/1 ARM sank 6.11 percent and the average one-year ARM held at 6 percent.

Mortgage rates had increased in each of the four prior weeks, aided by comments from the Fed about the focus on taming inflation. But several inflation readings in the past week served to calm the nerves of investors, and the upward momentum on Treasury yields and mortgage rates subsided. Fixed mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government bonds. Both the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed tame advances at the core level that excludes volatile food and energy components, fueling optimism that the Fed won't need to hike interest rates as a preventative. Also, the March reading on capacity utilization, cited by the Fed as a marker of inflation pressures, eased back. The alternating good news/bad news on the economy has kept mortgage rates in a narrow band of approximately one-eighth of a percentage point in the past two months.

Fixed mortgage rates are notably lower than last summer when the Fed last raised interest rates. At the time, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate peaked at 6.93 percent, and a $165,000 loan carried a monthly payment of $1,090.00. With the average 30-year fixed rate now 6.29 percent, the same loan originated today would carry a monthly payment of $1,020.23. Fixed mortgage rates are a compelling refinancing alternative for adjustable rate borrowers facing sharp payment adjustments.

                              SURVEY RESULTS

  30-year fixed: 6.29% -- down from 6.31% last week (avg. points: 0.27)
  15-year fixed: 6.02% -- down from 6.04% last week (avg. points: 0.25)
     5/1 ARM: 6.11% -- down from 6.17% last week (avg. points: 0.29)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly forward-looking Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next 30 to 45 days. There isn't a clear consensus this week, with 44 percent predicting rates to rise. Thirty-four percent of respondents expect rates to remain more or less unchanged. Just 22 percent forecast that rates will continue to decline in the next 30 to 45 days.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI About Bankrate, Inc.

Bankrate, Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE) owns and operates Bankrate.com, a leading Internet consumer banking marketplace. Bankrate.com is a destination site of personal finance channels, including banking, investing, taxes, debt management and college finance. It is the leading aggregator of more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used auto loans, money market accounts and CDs, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. Bankrate.com reviews more than 4,800 financial institutions in 575 markets in 50 states. In 2005, Bankrate.com had nearly 53 million unique visitors. Bankrate.com provides financial applications and information to a network of more than 75 partners, including Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) , America Online (NYSE: TWX) , The Wall Street Journal (NYSE: DJ) and The New York Times (NYSE: NYT) . Bankrate.com's information is also distributed through more than 400 national and state publications. In addition to Bankrate.com, Bankrate, Inc. also owns and operates FastFind, an internet lead aggregator and MMIS/Interest.com, which publishes mortgage guides and financial rates and information.

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