NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Mortgage rates fell last week, in part due to signs of easing inflation pressures.

The average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 6.15 percent, from 6.21 percent last week, a Freddie Mac survey said.

Top things to know Are you ready? Lining up cash Picking a team The hunt Closing the deal For sellers only

In the year-ago period, the 30-year mortgage averaged 5.74 percent.

The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 5.71 percent from last week's average of 5.76 percent. A year ago, the loan averaged 5.19 percent.

Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 5.76 percent, down slightly from 5.78 percent the previous week. In the year-ago period, the five-year averaged 5.05 percent.

One-year adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 5.15 percent, compared to 5.16 percent from the week before. At this time last year, the one-year loan averaged 4.10 percent.

"Interest rates for long-term mortgages slipped lower this week due to some economic data releases that pointed towards more subdued inflation in the near term," Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, said in a statement. "However, shorter-term rates, such as those for adjustable-rate mortgages, were basically unchanged due to market expectations of another rate hike by the Federal Reserve Board at the end of January.

""Our January forecast calls for a gradual rise in long-term rates throughout 2006, ending the year at about 6.5 percent for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, while relative rate differences with adjustable-rate mortgages will narrow," Nothaft added.

_____________________________

Bursting bubble? Bring it on. Click here.