Average mortgage interest rates increased significantly during the week ended September 23. As a result, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said the volume of mortgage applications gave back most of its prior week gains when it had increased for the first time in six weeks. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 3.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier and was 4 percent lower on an unadjusted basis. The Refinance Index dropped back by 11 percent week-over-week and was 84 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 30.2 percent from 32.5 percent the previous week. [refiappschart] The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.4 percent from one week earlier and was 1 percent lower before adjustment. Applications were down 29 percent compared to the same week in 2021. [purchaseappschart] “Applications for both purchase and refinances declined last week as mortgage rates continued to increase to multi-year highs following more aggressive policy measures from the Federal Reserve to bring down inflation,” Joel Kan said. “Additionally, ongoing uncertainty about the impact of the Fed’s reduction of its MBS and Treasury holdings is adding to the volatility in mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed rate was 6.52 percent, its highest level since mid-2008. After a brief pause in July, mortgage rates have increased more than a percentage point over the past six weeks .”