Minimal Change in U.S. Mortgage Rates

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Mortgage rates in the U.S. barely moved, after increasing for two weeks in a row, according to Freddie Mac.

The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rate averaged 4.42 percent this week, down from 4.46 percent last week. A year ago, the average was 3.32 percent.

Mortgage rates were little changed amid a light week for economic data.

"Of the few releases, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 203,000 in November and the unemployment rate declined to 7.0 percent," Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac, said in the repot. "Also, single family mortgage debt outstanding increased for the first time since 2008. This is a positive sign as it reflects that the pick-up in new purchase-money originations has offset loan paydowns and led to a net increase in principal outstanding."

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.43 percent, down from 3.47 percent last week. Last year at this time, the average was 2.66 percent.

The one-year treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.51 percent this week, down from last week's 2.59 percent.

Yesterday, the Mortgage Bankers Associations reported a slight increase in mortgage applications.