Last Week's Mortgage Rate Recap: Rates slightly worse 👎
Mortgage rates edged slightly higher last week, but the changes were minimal and not cause for major concern. There was little economic data to influence rates, and the Trump administration has yet to implement the tariffs that previously raised market concerns.
This Week's Mortgage Rate Forecast: Rates could be volatile ⚠️
This week rates could see significant movement. The Fed meeting and Chair Powell's press conference are expected to have the biggest impact, with additional attention on the first release of Q4 GDP and PCE inflation data later in the week.
What's affecting rates this week:
- The Fed: The Fed meeting concludes on Wednesday, with expectations the Fed will leave its policy rate unchanged after three consecutive cuts. The policy statement will be released at 2 PM ET, but Fed Chair Powell’s press conference afterward is likely to have a greater effect on mortgage rates. Any indication of continued rate cuts could lead to lower mortgage rates, while signs the Fed has paused rate cuts could push rates higher.
- Economic data: While secondary to the Fed’s decisions, economic data releases later this week - such as Q4 GDP and PCE inflation - may still cause rate fluctuations.