This week’s increase marked the highest level on the 30-year loan since mid-July, when the rate was 6.89%, according to Freddie Mac data. The lowest rate this year was 6.08% at the end of September, while the highest — 7.22% — was reached at the beginning of May.

Mortgage rates rose again this week to end the year slightly higher than where they began. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.85% for the week through Wednesday, according to Freddie Mac data. That’s up from 6.72% a week earlier. Average 15-year mortgage rates rose to 6% from 5.92%.

The rate rose to 6.85% from 6.72% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate on a 30-year mortgage averaged 6.61%. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since the week of July 11,