Briefly

* The average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 6.32% last week from 6.30% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac. The average for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.69% from 5.67%. The one-year adjustable rate fell to 3.87% from 3.99%, the first decline in eight weeks.

* U.S. sales of new houses fell 11.8% in April, the biggest monthly drop in more than a decade, as mortgage rates rose and home prices soared to record levels. April sales of about 1,093,000 new single-family homes marked the slowest month since November and followed a record of about 1,239,000 in March, the Commerce Department reported.

* Sales of previously owned houses in April rose 2.5% to a 6.64 million annual rate, the second-highest on record, according to the National Assn. of Realtors. Resales account for about 85% of residential sales.

* New U.S. mortgage applications fell for a third straight week, the Mortgage Bankers Assn. said Wednesday.