Signs of Moderation in Inflation Allows Mortgage Rates to Edge Lower for First Time in Six Weeks
McLEAN, VA -- Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.17 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending April 18, 2007, down from last week when it averaged 6.22 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.53 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.89 percent with an average 0.5 point, down slightly from last week when it averaged 5.90 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.17 percent. Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.92 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down slightly from last week when it averaged 5.93 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.16 percent. One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.45 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, also down slightly from last week when it averaged 5.47 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.63 percent. "Mortgage rates slipped following the latest reports of moderation in inflation rates from the core producer price and consumer price indexes," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "Excluding food and energy, the core inflation rate for consumer prices rose 2.5 percent year-over-year, the smallest annual growth since May 2006. This helped calm markets and brought mortgage rates down." "The low mortgage rates that have prevailed so far in 2007 may have a stabilizing effect on the housing sector. Both housing starts and new permits for March came in above expectations, but February's housing starts numbers were revised downward. Because of weather-induced fluctuations in housing statistics, we will have to see what the numbers show later in the Spring to gauge whether the March readings are indeed a signal of market turnaround." | 
