Interest rates for long-term mortgages rose this week to their highest levels since March, pushed up by the threat of inflation.

Interest rates for long-term mortgages rose this week to their highest levels since March, pushed up by the threat of inflation.

Interest rates for long-term mortgages rose this week to their highest levels since March, pushed up by the threat of inflation.

Interest rates for long-term mortgages rose this week to their highest levels since March, pushed up by the threat of inflation.

Months after many eager homeowners started gearing up to refinance their mortgages, interest rates for Bay Area-size mortgages are finally falling. Vote: Will you refi? | Search local real estate transactions

Months after many eager homeowners started gearing up to refinance their mortgages, interest rates for Bay Area-size mortgages are finally falling.

Months after many eager homeowners starting gearing up to refinance their mortgages, interest rates for Bay Area-sized mortgages are finally falling.

Months after many eager homeowners starting gearing up to refinance their mortgages, interest rates for Bay Area-sized mortgages are finally falling.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Wednesday, on concerns about inflation and higher interest rates as oil jumped to a record above $123 a barrel.

The Federal Reserve and two other banking regulators today unveiled one of the most aggressive efforts in decades to crack down on the credit card industry, prohibiting practices such as arbitrarily raising interest rates on outstanding balances.