Historical Year Data · 1981

30Y Mortgage Rate in 1981

30Y Mortgage Rate opened 1981 at 14.95% and closed at 17.04%, a +13.98% move for the year. The high of 18.63% was reached on October 9, and the low of 14.80% on January 9.

Open

14.95%

1981-01

17.04%

53 data points

High

18.63%

Oct 9

Low

14.80%

Jan 9

Full Year Change

+13.98%

1980 Change

+16.34%

Monthly Breakdown

Month	Open	Close	High	Low	Change
Jan	14.95%	15.07%	15.07%	14.80%	+0.80%
Feb	15.00%	15.30%	15.30%	15.00%	+2.00%
Mar	15.40%	15.40%	15.40%	15.40%	+0.00%
Apr	15.40%	15.77%	15.77%	15.40%	+2.40%
May	15.82%	16.80%	16.80%	15.82%	+6.19%
Jun	16.76%	16.62%	16.76%	16.62%	-0.84%
Jul	16.64%	17.11%	17.11%	16.64%	+2.82%
Aug	17.13%	17.48%	17.48%	17.13%	+2.04%
Sep	17.79%	18.36%	18.36%	17.79%	+3.20%
Oct	18.28%	18.44%	18.63%	18.28%	+0.88%
Nov	18.37%	17.21%	18.37%	17.21%	-6.31%
Dec	16.90%	17.04%	17.04%	16.90%	+0.83%

Events During 1981

1979 Volcker Shock

Stagflation

October 1979 – August 1982

Paul Volcker's Fed raised interest rates to 20% to break entrenched inflation. The policy triggered the deepest post-war recession but ended the stagflation era and established inflation-targeting credibility.

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