by Calculated Risk on 7/13/2011 07:21:00 AM

The MBA reports: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 2.6 percent from one week earlier. ... Refinance Index decreased 6.2 percent from the previous week, and was 42.1 percent lower than a year ago. The Refinance Index has decreased the past four consecutive weeks, reaching its lowest level since April 29, 2011.
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.55 percent from 4.69 percent, with points increasing to 0.99 from 0.90 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.

The following graph shows the MBA Purchase Index and four week moving average since 1990.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

The four week average is still mostly moving sideways at about 1997 levels.

Of course this doesn't include the large number of cash buyers ... but this suggests purchase activity remains fairly weak.