Mortgage delinquency rates appeared little changed over the last three months of 2002, although a spike in short-term payment lapses may lead to higher delinquencies down the road. The Inside Mortgage Finance Large Servicer Delinquency Index dropped slightly, from 4.71 percent in the third quarter to 4.70 percent in the final quarter of 2002. The data are drawn from 25 of the largest servicers