LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage climbed this week to its highest level in more than five months, pushing up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers in what's typically the housing market's busiest stretch of the year.

The rate rose to 7.22% from 7.17% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.39%. When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers.

Long-term mortgage rates rose for the fifth consecutive week, according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 7.22% as of May 2, up from last week when they averaged 7.