US mortgage rates fall for 4th week; 30-year dips to 2.94%

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates declined this week, marking their fourth consecutive week below 3%. The dip comes amid continued signs of strength in the economy’s recovery from the pandemic recession. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average for the benchmark 30-year home-loan rate eased to 2.94% from 2.96% last week. The rate for a 15-year loan slipped to 2.26% from 2.30%. The latest bright news came in a government report that the number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 473,000, a new pandemic low and further evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers ramp up spending and more businesses reopen.