The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.91%, compared to 6.97% a week earlier, according to the Mortgage Research Center. For borrowers who want a shorter mortgage, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the second week in a row, but remains just below 7%, little relief for prospective home shoppers looking ahead to the spring homebuying season.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) remained unchanged at 7.02%.

Mortgage rates are up just a couple of basis points since last week, keeping them near their post-Christmas low. Rates on new 30-year fixed-rate loans averaged 6.98% on Friday, as compared to the 4-week low of 6.93%. 15-year loans saw their Friday-to-Friday average rise a more sizable 8 basis points, now up to 6.14%.

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates may only drop a little bit this year since the economy is still running strong.

Mortgage rates pulled back slightly this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 7.03 percent, down from 7.06 percent the previous week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. The Federal Reserve held off cutting rates on Wednesday and could keep to that stance until the inflation picture becomes clearer.