A townhouse is listed for sale in Northeast Washington on September 4, 2010. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn 

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) — The Mortgage Bankers Association said U.S. mortgage activity decreased modestly in the week ending April 8, as long-term rates rose.

Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages rose from 4.93 percent to 4.98 percent with points rising from 0.69 to 0.93. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate contracts rose from 4.14 percent to 4.17 percent with points rising from 1.09 to 1.22, the MBA said.

The MBA’s Market Composite Index, indicating the volume of new mortgage activity, fell 6.7 percent in the week. The Refinancing Index fell 7.7 percent in the week, the trade group said.