A multitude of economic reasons has contributed to the rise in mortgage rates so far this year. A major issue is persistently rising inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation was 8.3 percent in April, the highest level in 40 years. When inflation is high, interest rates tend to climb.
Rising mortgage rates continue to complicate financial concerns for home buyers. For the first time in years, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topped 5%. In early May, the average fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage hit 5.27 percent. This is the highest level in over a decade.
Other global concerns that could harm the economy, like China’s COVID lockdown and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are still affecting financial markets. Things like these are driving up mortgage rates.