National Business Digest

NATION

30-year mortgage rates average 6.10% this week

WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages have risen for a second straight week, climbing to the highest level in a month.

Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.10 percent this week, up slightly from 6.09 percent last week. It was the highest level since 30-year mortgages averaged 6.35 percent for the week ending Sept. 4.

Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, which are popular with people who are refinancing, edged up to 5.78 percent, compared to 5.77 percent last week.

Producers: Plenty of gas available this winter

WASHINGTON — Despite supply interruptions caused by Hurricane Gustav, there should be plenty of natural gas available for heating this winter and prices are likely to stay about the same as last winter, natural gas producers said Thursday.

Nearly half of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico remains shut down because of two recent hurricanes. But the industry said that gas inventories at the start of the winter heating season — traditionally the beginning of November — are expected to be well above the five-year average.

Associated Press