The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged up this week, ending a five-week decline in borrowing costs for homebuyers.

The rate went to 6.72% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.89%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with refinancing home loans, also rose. The average rate increased to 5.86% from 5.80% last week. A year ago, it was 6.17%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy to bond investors’ expectations for the economy. The key barometer is the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield was at 4.37% at midday Thursday, up from 4.34% late Wednesday. — Associated Press