{"id":22711,"date":"2026-07-31T04:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T23:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22711"},"modified":"2026-07-31T04:00:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T23:00:30","slug":"mortgage-rates-hit-a-one-year-high-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22711","title":{"rendered":"Mortgage rates hit a one-year high : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-136467\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 4628;&#10;        --source-height: 3085;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x3085+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"A 'for sale' sign is seen on a house in Monterey Park, California, on September 17, 2025.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                A &#8216;for sale&#8217; sign is seen on a house in Monterey Park, California, on September 17, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    FREDERIC J. BROWN\/AFP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        FREDERIC J. BROWN\/AFP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/newsletter\/money\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Sign up for the Planet Money newsletter. The world is confusing. Economics can help<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 6.66% this week, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., commonly known as Freddie Mac.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s the highest it&#8217;s reached in a year \u2014 at the end of last July, the average rate was 6.72%. The biblically ominous 6.66% figure could strike fear into homebuyers because it&#8217;s a sign that home ownership is becoming less affordable.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5913851-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5896065\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/29\/nx-s1-5896065\/personal-bankruptcy-rates-rising\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/29\\\/nx-s1-5896065\\\/personal-bankruptcy-rates-rising&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2328x2328+456+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F2c%2F6e81bd2e4f9fa9b3c90ff6fc5557%2Fap21062421446501.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"A close-up shows a hand holding various credit cards splayed out.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5913851-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5913851-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5540077\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/09\/25\/nx-s1-5540077\/housing-prices-fewer-children\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/25\\\/nx-s1-5540077\\\/housing-prices-fewer-children&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3002x3000+485+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd1%2F84%2F05c7a0d041529de8bd67e48cf301%2Fcost-of-living-fewer-babies.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Housing prices are causing some people to have smaller families than planned\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5913851-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Last summer, rates were falling, and the decline continued into early 2026. Rates even dipped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/02\/26\/nx-s1-5726386\/home-mortgage-rates-below-6\" target=\"_blank\"><u>below 6%<\/u><\/a> in February, raising hopes that this would unlock a tepid housing market, in which home seekers have been reluctant to buy and homeowners have been loath to give up lower pandemic-era rates.<\/p>\n<p>But then the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz raised the price of oil. Rising oil prices meant more expensive shipping costs, which drove up the price of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/10\/nx-s1-5853077\/inflation-over-4-cpi-gasoline-prices\" target=\"_blank\"><u>just about <\/u><em><u>everything<\/u><\/em><\/a>. That in turn drove up the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, a kind of security that is backed by the U.S. government. It&#8217;s considered an indicator of which way other interest rates are trending \u2014 and mortgage rates closely follow.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;Oil prices always swing mortgage rates,&#8221; said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. &#8220;You get a real-time read every time you go to a gas pump about what it means to buy a home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The average for a gallon of regular on Thursday was $4.10, according to AAA, about $1.11 higher than before the war began.<\/p>\n<p>Kate Wood, a housing expert for the financial advice website NerdWallet, said that because the fighting in Iran has gone through so many pauses and restarts, investors&#8217; fears won&#8217;t be calmed without a significant signal that the conflict is coming to an end.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The best bet would be a decisive, conclusive, actually-sticks end to fighting in Iran,&#8221; Wood said. But, she added, even then investors could remain skeptical: &#8220;Markets might be a little bit once bitten, twice shy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5913851-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5910558\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/29\/nx-s1-5910558\/federal-reserve-interest-rates-inflation\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/29\\\/nx-s1-5910558\\\/federal-reserve-interest-rates-inflation&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2649x2649+662+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F95%2Fa3eacef54efebc1a245001e55d9f%2Fgettyimages-2286063371-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 14: Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill on July 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. Warsh, President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve, presented the Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report to the committee. (Photo by Eric Lee\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5913851-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5913851-103\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5913230\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/30\/nx-s1-5913230\/economy-gdp-inflation\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/30\\\/nx-s1-5913230\\\/economy-gdp-inflation&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3196x3196+799+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F7f%2F2ead573949d7841ebd56ac6dbd2e%2Fgettyimages-2025865112.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Consumer spending continued to power the U.S. economy in April, May and June, as GDP expanded at an annual rate of 1.5%.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5913851-103\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Those same investors were also spooked after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled that an interest rate hike could be on the way in September, even as it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/29\/nx-s1-5910558\/federal-reserve-interest-rates-inflation\" target=\"_blank\"><u>held its benchmark interest rate steady<\/u><\/a> for now.<\/p>\n<p>Three of the central bank&#8217;s rate-setting committee members voted for a hike. That wasn&#8217;t enough to alter the outcome, but markets saw the rare split as indication that a higher rate could be coming in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>The sticker price for homes has also contributed to the tepid housing market. Sales have barely moved over the last three years, according to the National Association of Realtors. In June, the average existing home sold for more than $440,000, while sales themselves declined 2.4% from a year earlier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A &#8216;for sale&#8217; sign is seen on a house in Monterey Park, California, on September 17, 2025. FREDERIC J. BROWN\/AFP hide caption toggle caption FREDERIC J. BROWN\/AFP Sign up for the Planet Money newsletter. The world is confusing. Economics can help The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 6.66% this week, according to the Federal Home&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4628x2603+0+482\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F79%2Fe893c284419f9955b015948f8372%2Fgettyimages-2235439355.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}