The average rate on the popular U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged to a three-month high this week as war in the Middle East stoked inflation fears, dealing a blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to make housing more affordable.The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.22%, highest since early December, up from 6.11% last week, mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac said on Thursday. Rising mortgage rates, if sustained, could hamper home sales during the typically busy spring season.The benchmark rate fell to 5.98% on the eve of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran after President Donald Trump ordered Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to expand purchases of mortgage-backed securities.It reversed course as the conflict drove up oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields. Mortgage rates track the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield. Housing affordability has become an increasingly potent political issue ahead of the November midterm elections.