WASHINGTON >> Long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose this week after three weeks of declines, marking their first increase of the year. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans climbed to an average 4.19 percent from 4.09 percent last week. That was still sharply higher than a 30-year rate that averaged 3.65 percent for all of 2016, the lowest level recorded from records going back to 1971. A year ago, the benchmark rate stood at 3.79 percent. The average for a 15-year mortgage increased to 3.40 percent from 3.34 percent last week.

Starbucks says ‘congestion’ crimping sales

NEW YORK >> Not everyone is willing to wait in a line for a Starbucks fix. The coffee chain reported disappointing sales growth on Thursday and partly blamed the “congestion” in its stores for prompting some people to leave without buying anything. Starbucks said the popularity of its mobile order-and-pay option, which was supposed to make getting a drink easier, has caused bottlenecks at the areas where people pick up their drinks.