UK fixed rate mortgage costs are shootingup, figures from Moneyfacts reveal.

Activity in the fixed rate mortgage market this week has been the most frantic for 12 months, with the average two year deal jumping by 0.16 per cent, they report.

The average two year fixed rate mortgage has increased from 4.74 per cent on Monday to 4.90 per cent by the end of last week.

The average five year fixed deal has actually increased even more, from 5.61 per cent to 5.82 per cent - a five day jump of 0.21 per cent.

The figures come after last week's announcement from the Council of Mortgage Lenders that consumers are opting for fixed rate mortgage in their highest numbers for ten months.
Ray Boulger of John Charcol also recently warned: "The message for borrowers wanting to take a fixed rate is clear; get in now or miss out on the current relatively low rates."

Analyst at Moneyfacts.co.uk, Michelle Slade, commented: "After a period of relative calm in the mortgage market, lenders are stumbling over each other to increase fixed rate mortgages. The last time we saw such frantic activity was at the end of June 2008, when the average two year fixed reached a staggering 7.08 per cent.

"The recent increase can be attributed to the hike in swap rates that we saw a few weeks ago. Just like last time, lenders are quick to pass any increase in the cost of wholesale funding on, but are never quite as quick to reduce rates when the cost of funding declines.

"In June 2008, when the average rate hit its peak, the margin over swaps was 0.76 per cent. Today the margin is 2.35 per cent and it is hard to foresee anything other than the fixed rate increasing even further."