Mortgage rates start the week near 6.71% after weak July retail sales

As of Friday, August 14, 2026, the Mortgage News Daily daily index put the 30-year fixed at 6.71%, up 0.02 from the prior session. That is still close to the lowest level in about four weeks. Monday's early bond market was mixed: commentary pointed to slightly lower Treasury yields overnight, while mortgage-backed security prices were softer versus the last lender reprice.

What are today's mortgage rates?

Mortgage News Daily last published its weekday index on Friday, August 14, 2026 (the daily survey updates around 4 p.m. ET on weekdays):

• 30-year fixed: 6.71% (+0.02)
• 15-year fixed: 6.29% (+0.03)
• 30-year jumbo: 6.85% (+0.02)
• 7/6 SOFR ARM: 6.29% (unchanged)
• 30-year FHA: 6.29% (+0.01)
• 30-year VA: 6.31% (+0.02)

Freddie Mac's weekly survey as of August 13, 2026 showed a 30-year fixed at 6.67% and a 15-year fixed at 5.96%.

Individual lender quotes differ from a national index. A locked rate is not a closed loan.

Why did rates move at the end of last week?

Friday's retail sales report showed the value of retail transactions fell 0.6% in July, the largest drop since May 2025. Sales excluding autos and gasoline fell 0.2%. Five of 13 categories declined. Non-store retailers, including online, fell 2.2%. Some of that may reflect sales pulled into June by Amazon Prime Day. Restaurant and bar receipts rose 0.5%.

Weaker spending data often helps bonds and mortgage rates. That did not fully play out Friday. Retail sales is not in the same tier as a jobs or inflation report, and traders were also closing the week's positions. The 10-year Treasury yield finished Friday at 4.69%, about 3 basis points higher than Thursday and 5 basis points higher for the week.

A separate University of Michigan preliminary August consumer sentiment reading fell to 51 from 55.2 in July, below the 55.0 expectation. Consumers expected prices to rise 4.3% over the next year, a bit higher than the prior month. Labor-market expectations were little changed.

Even with Friday's small uptick, those Friday rates would still have been the lowest in four weeks aside from Thursday afternoon. You would have to go back to around July 17 to see a lower print.

What is on this week's economic calendar?

This week is lighter than last week. Housing data is the focus.

• Monday, 8:30 a.m. ET: Empire Manufacturing (August survey 10.0, prior 15.6)
• Monday, 10:00 a.m. ET: NAHB Housing Market Index (August survey 33, prior 34)
• Later this week: housing starts and pending home sales

Early Monday, Treasury yields were described as slightly lower. Conventional and Ginnie Mae fixed MBS prices, and the 10-year note price, were down versus the last reprice, which is a softer open for mortgage pricing until the next reset.

Mortgage News Daily's Monday morning trend note said underlying MBS conditions increased slightly and pointed to a minimal impact on rates for the day. That is a trend signal, not a forecast of any one lender's rate sheet.

What does this mean if you are buying or refinancing?

A 30-year rate near 6.71% is not a dramatic move from Thursday. Many borrowers will see little or no change in pricing from Friday's small increase. The bigger picture is that rates are still better than they were a month ago, and this week's housing reports can move the market again.

If you are shopping, compare a few quotes the same day and ask how long a lock lasts. Run a payment estimate, then look at purchase or refinance options. Payment math still matters more than a 0.02 change on a national average. See when refinancing beats waiting.

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