Mortgage-Rates-News – for the week of February 6, 2023

Mortgage rates improved through the week until Friday's jobs data came in much stronger than expected, pushing rates up to end the week about the same as they started it. The jobs data blew away all expectations, with more than double the expected new jobs created and with unemployment hitting a 53-year low.

Average mortgage rates could continue to creep higher this week, after the strong labor numbers gave the Fed more room to continue to raise its policy rate at future meetings to fight inflation. Mortgage rates react to the speculation of moves before they happen, so this opens the door to higher rates now rather than when the Fed actually acts.

- Economic data: A few Treasury auctions and Friday's consumer confidence reading are most likely to affect mortgage rates this week.

- Inflation: Rates this week may move as traders try to anticipate next week's CPI inflation data, which will set the tone for which direction rates move from here depending on if inflation is still falling and by how much.

- The Fed: Markets are now pricing in a higher peak before the Fed stops hiking its policy rate, pushing mortgage rates higher.

Conventional 30 year fixed ($ 726,200 loan amount or less)  

5.75 to 6 % with points

FHA 30 year fixed ($ 726,200 loan amount or less)

5.5% to 5.75% with points

VA 30 year fixed ($ 726,200 loan amount or less)  

5.5 to 5.75% with points