NEW YORK - November 19, 2009 - Mortgage borrowers are still falling behind on their payments in record numbers, despite the many foreclosure prevention efforts initiated by both the government and non-profit organizations.

In the third quarter, 9.64% of all mortgage loans were delinquent, according to a report released on Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. That represents 4.5 million borrowers and is an increase from 9.24% in the prior three months.

According to Jay Brinkmann, MBA's chief economist, "Job losses continue to increase and drive up delinquencies and foreclosures because mortgages are paid with paychecks, not percentage point increases in GDP."

The delinquency rate includes all mortgage loans that are at least one payment past due but does not include loans in some stage of foreclosure.

The combination of loans in foreclosure and those with at least one payment past due was 14.41% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the highest ever recorded in the MBA delinquency survey.