Story perspectives

Treasury yields hit 5% as mortgage rates climb

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 6:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Treasury yields rose to 5% on September 14, 2026, the highest since October 2023.
The 30-year Treasury note climbed to 5.374%.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent bought $5.187 billion of 10- to 20-year bonds, under the $6 billion limit.
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates rose to 6.76%, up 60 basis points this year.
Bloomberg’s Markets Pulse survey found traders would shift portfolios only if yields exceed about 6.5%.

History

Historical Context

When double-digit inflation surged in 1979, newly appointed Fed chair Paul Volcker lifted the federal-funds rate from about 11 % to a 17.6 % peak by April 1980, sparking a recession and driving inflation to 14.8 % in March 1980. In September 2026, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent purchased billions of dollars of 10- to 20-year bonds as yields rose toward 5 %, recalling the early-1980s supply-driven rate pressure.

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Story summary

U.S. Treasury yields rose to 5% on September 14, 2026, the highest since October 2023.
The 30-year Treasury note climbed to 5.374%.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent bought $5.187 billion of 10- to 20-year bonds, under the $6 billion limit.
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates rose to 6.76%, up 60 basis points this year.
Bloomberg’s Markets Pulse survey found traders would shift portfolios only if yields exceed about 6.5%.

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