By Ann Saphir Oct 7 (Reuters) - The interest rate on the most common US home loan jumped last week to its highest in almost three years, worsening affordability for buyers four weeks before elections that will decide if President Donald Trump's Republicans keep control of Congress.

US Deficit Nears $2 Trillion as Debt, Rates Raise Affordability Fears

Federal Reserve policymakers raised the benchmark interest rate just days after President Trump said the United States should have "the lowest interest rates in the world."

JST on October 8, 2026. Final prices are based on the October 7 ET close, and information from October 8 ET is distinguished as pre-market news. The conclusion of this report is that the continuation

For Americans dealing with the increase in interest rates by the Federal Reserve, the effect depends heavily on whether they are borrowing money, saving money or both. Homebuyers can face higher monthly payments.

JPMorgan warns rising bond yields threaten small-cap stocks as government debt swells. See the 2 stocks it picked.

A key gauge of where the market thinks rates are headed is the CME FedWatch survey, which polls interest rate traders. In the days leading up to the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, almost 60% of those polled expected a 25-basis-point rate hike, which the FOMC delivered on Sept. 16.

Goldman Sachs Research notes that sustained and robust gold buying by global central banks is supporting an upward trend in gold prices and underpinning its target price of USD4,900 per oz for the end of 2026.

As we get closer to the FOMC meeting date, it is likely that there will be more talk about interest rates and what the Fed can or cannot do to change their course. In this post, I hope to step back from the day-to-day coverage of US Treasury yields and ...