U.S. long-term mortgage rates rise; 30-year at 2.84%

WASHINGTON » U. S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week. They remain at historically low levels, now around a percentage point below a year ago.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year benchmark loan increased to 2.84% from 2.78% from last week. By contrast, the rate averaged 3.75% a year ago. The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up to 2.34% from 2.32%.