US mortgage applications slump 2.7pc as mortgage rates rise

9th Sep 2026 08:08

(Sharecast News) - US mortgage applications decreased 2.7% in the week ended 4 September, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, more than reversing the 0.8% increase seen a week earlier.

The drop came as benchmark mortgage rates rose sharply, with the 30‑year fixed rate hitting a 15-month high of 6.58%, amid high energy prices, elevated debt supply, and widening deficits.

Applications to refinance a mortgage, which are typically more sensitive to short‑term interest rate moves, fell by 6% week-on-week, while applications to purchase a home were broadly flat.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com