Mortgage rates

Federal Reserve officials intensified their battle against the hottest inflation in a generation by shifting to end their asset-buying program earlier and signaling they favor raising interest rates in 2022 at a faster pace than economists were expecting.

Treasuries plunged following news of the omicron variant, but subsequently reversed course.

Fed moves, inflation and retail sales applied upward pressure, contributing to the increase.

The average for a 30-year loan was 2.98%, down from 3.09% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement Thursday.

But the Fed’s taper announcement has the industry planning for increases throughout 2022.

But the number of prospects remains at the high end of its pre-pandemic range.

A majority of the 49 economists in the survey predicted the U.S. central bank will begin the taper in November and wrap it up by mid-2022, curbing the current $120 billion monthly buying pace by reducing Treasuries by $10 billion a month and mortgage-backed securities by $5 billion.

The 30-year average stayed above 3% for the second straight seven-day period, with improved retail sales data helping drive the uptick.

Inflation, supply chain issues and labor shortages will lead to a tightening by the Fed sooner rather than later.

Rising inflation and moves by the Federal Reserve are expected to fuel interest rate growth into 2022.