Mortgage rates continue to rise

WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages rose this week to the highest level since the spring of 2002.

Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages increased to a nationwide average of 6.80 percent, up from 6.74 percent last week.

The increase pushed 30-year rates to the highest level since they stood at 6.81 percent the week of May 24, 2002.

The lowest mortgage rates in four decades powered a boom in housing that pushed sales of both new and existing homes to record levels for five consecutive years. But sales have slowed this year as mortgage rates have been rising.

Some economists have expressed fears that the housing boom could quickly turn into a bust with sales and prices both falling sharply. But Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Thursday that so far the slowdown in housing "appears to be orderly."

Bernanke said the Fed recognized that a slowdown in housing could have a more severe impact on the overall economy "and we are watching it very carefully."

The rise in mortgage rates this week was blamed in part on further increases in inflation, including a 0.3 percent increase in core inflation as measured by the consumer price index, which was reported Wednesday.