Home-mortgage rates fell this week, with the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropping back below 5% as Treasury yields continue to fluctuate, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey.

Recovery in the U.S. housing market has been fragile. Demand for new and used homes, after strengthening in earlier months, dropped in December because of cold weather and continuing joblessness. In addition, buyers sought to wrap up home purchases before a federal tax credit was set to expire in November, pulling sales in earlier.

Wall Street Journal