Total mortgage applications rose 11.2% week to week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index.

The average US 30-year mortgage rate declined for a sixth straight week to the lowest level since early December, sparking a pickup in purchase and refinancing activity.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the sixth week in a row, a welcome boost in purchasing power for home shoppers just as the annual spring homebuying season gets going.

In recent weeks, mortgage rates have fallen ahead of the Federal Reserve’s March meeting, and the spring homebuying season is underway. Are rate cuts on the table for the year ahead, and how might factors

Mortgage rates are on a downward trend, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage dropping from around 6.9% to the 6.6% range over the last month. But a shaky economy will likely keep the housing market frozen for a while.