Last Week's Mortgage Rate Recap: Rates basically unchanged 👍
Mortgage rates started the new year unchanged, and that should be considered a win after watching rates move higher in the first half of December.
This Week's Mortgage Rate Forecast: Rates could move higher 👎
Mortgage rates are expected to rise in early 2025, and that trend could begin this week with strong labor market data and concerns about rising inflation. House hunters should get comfortable with these rates, because it is unlikely we will see rates move much lower without signs of a weakening economy and a softening labor market.
What's affecting rates this week:
- Labor market data: Key reports this week will cover job openings, new job creation, layoffs, and unemployment rates. Signs of a resilient labor market support rates remaining at these levels or moving higher.
- Treasury debt: This week brings $119 billion of fresh government debt being issued, and generally an increase in supply will pressure Treasury yields higher, which could contribute to pushing mortgage rates higher.
- The Fed: Minutes from last month's Fed meeting will be released this week, and signs that the Fed is done cutting its policy rate for awhile could put pressure on mortgage rates.