BRIEFLY

30-year mortgage rate inches up from last week’s record

WASHINGTON » Average rates on fixed mortgages rose this week, the first increase in seven weeks. But mortgage rates remain near historic lows, boosting prospects for home sales this year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan increased to 3.71 percent. That’s up from 3.67 percent last week, the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.

The average rate on the 15-year mortgage, a popular refinancing option, rose to 2.98 percent. That’s up from 2.94 percent last week, also a record low.

Pasha joins Matson, Horizon in fuel-fee cut

Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines will decrease its fuel surcharge to 38 percent from 41.5 percent effective Sunday, the company said has announced.

The move follows a similar announcement Monday by Matson Navigation Co., which will decrease its fuel surcharge by 3.5 percentage points effective Sunday. The move, reflecting a decline in fuel costs, was immediately mirrored by Horizon Lines. The fuel surcharge for both Matson and Horizon will drop to 42 percent from 45.5 percent.

"Our new (fuel surcharge) of 38 percent is 4 points lower than Matson’s and Horizon," said Reggie Maldonado, Pasha director and general manager.

Hawaiian tops U.S. airlines in punctuality

Hawaiian Airlines topped the nation’s carriers in punctuality and fewest cancellations in April, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report.

The state’s largest carrier had an on-time performance of 94.4 percent, the best among the 15 largest carriers covered in the report. The national average was 86.3 percent.

Hawaiian also had just two cancellations out of 6,037 flights during the month.

In other categories, Hawaiian was seventh in both mishandled baggage reports with 2.47 (1,708 reports total) per 1,000 passengers and in consumer complaints with 0.83 (six complaints total) per 100,000 passengers.

Wendy’s in Wahiawa to get new look

The Wendy’s restaurant in Wahiawa at 30 Kamehameha Highway is being rebuilt and is expected to reopen in September. The restaurant is being remodeled in Wendy’s new Ultra Modern design, which features interior and exterior designs.

"The new design is part of a multiyear strategy to reinvigorate our brand and the way our customers interact with us," said Diane Weed, divisional vice president of operations for Wendy’s. "This brand strategy involves completely re-imaging our entire menu, new advertising and marketing, new restaurant apparel and product packaging."

Hawaii ranks high in mortgage, card debt

Hawaii had the highest mortgage debt and second-highest credit card debt in the country in May, according to Credit Karma Inc., a California-based credit-scoring website.

Residents in the Aloha State had average mortgage debt of $307,266, up 3.5 percent from $296,857 in May 2011. California was second at $306,988. The average national mortgage debt was $167,485.

Hawaii consumers’ average credit card debt rose 2.6 percent to $7,250 from $7,063 a year earlier. Alaska had the highest debt at $7,307. The U.S. average was $5,637.

In other categories, Hawaii had the 26th-highest auto loan debt at $15,452, up 2.4 percent from $15,090; and 16th-highest student loan debt at $26,610, down 5.2 percent from $28,058. The U.S. average for auto loan debt was $15,691 and for student loan debt was $29,088. Despite the relatively high debt, Hawaii consumers also had the second-best credit score with 677, just down from 679 in the year-earlier quarter. New Jersey had the highest credit score in the most recent quarter at 679. The national average was 656.

More than 571,142 CreditKarma.com user scores were examined in compiling the report.

ON THE MOVE

» Mountain-Pacific Quality Health-Hawaii has appointed Dr. Jone Flanders as medical director of its Hawaii office. She is also currently the staff cardiologist at Tripler Army Medical Center and an assistant clinical professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

»Servco Home and Appliance Distribution has named Ramon "Ray" Ruiz as warehouse manager. He is an Air Force veteran who served 24 years and was previously stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

»Servco Auto Windward has announced Aaron Miyashiro as its assistant service and parts manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and joined Servco in 1997 as an ASE certified automotive technician at Service Motors.

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