Mortgage rates are higher now than just two weeks ago. The fear of inflation is creeping into the bond and mortgage securities markets because of the declining dollar and the high cost of oil, natural gas, and commodities in general.  The markets recognize higher rates as the Federal Reserve's primary method of fighting inflation and therefore rates increase with any sign of a strengthening economy, good economic numbers, a declining dollar, higher oil prices, and a number of other reasons over which we have no control.  Since short term rates are already very low, mostly as the result of the Fed's lowering key interest rates, higher rates are embedded in the longer term securities, like 10 -30 Treasury Bonds and 15-30 year mortgages.  This fear of inflation, for whatever reason, is causing interest rates to rise even though the economy appears weak.