Demand for mortgage loan applications fell 5.7 percent in the last week of February, according to a survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the industry group pointed the finger squarely at higher interest rates.
“The 30-year fixed rate increased to 6.71 percent last week, the highest rate since November 2022, which drove a 6 percent drop in applications," said Joel Kan, vice president and deputy chief economist at MBA, in a press release. After a brief revival in application activity in January when mortgage rates dropped down to 6.2 percent, there has now been three straight weeks of declines in applications as mortgage rates have jumped 50 basis points over the past month.”
The trend is putting downward pressure on both purchase and refinance applications, with the former down 44 percent from a year ago and the latter down 77 percent from a year ago.
Both indexes hit a 28-year low for the second consecutive week.
Kan added that new "data on inflation, employment, and economic activity have signaled that inflation may not be cooling as quickly as anticipated, which continues to put upward pressure on rates.”
Joe Spector, founder of Dutch and Hims & Hers co-founder, joins us to discuss how telehealth is transforming pet care—and what’s next for modern vet medicine.
Exclusive: Behr’s Andy Lopez reveals how ChatHUE, a bold collaboration with Google, is using AI to transform how we explore, choose, and connect with color.
Brian Vendig, President & CIO of MJP Wealth Advisors, joins to break down Q2 bank earnings and what they signal for markets, investors, and the economy ahead.
Are Gen Z and Millennials done with alcohol? Bacardi's Tony Latham breaks down trends, new preferences, and insights from the 2025 Cocktail Trends Report.
Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian breaks down the battle of summer blockbusters, from Superman to Jurassic World and Fantastic Four and what it means for studios.
VENU CEO JW Roth breaks ground on a 20,000-seat, state-of-the-art amphitheater in Texas—part of a $300M public-private expansion to redefine live music.
Despite healthcare spending cuts, medtech stocks like Edwards Life Sciences, Stryker, and Boston Scientific are rising, especially those serving older pati
The original Birkin bag created by Hermès for Jane Birkin in 1984 is up for auction in Paris. Sotheby’s expects the iconic bag to sell for hundreds of thousands of euros on Thursday.
