Rates for 30-year mortgages inched downward this week, but remain above record lows posted during the spring.

The average rate nationwide for a 30-year fixed-rate home loan was 5.32%, down from 5.42% last week. The average rate was much higher last year at this time: 6.35%, mortgage lender Freddie Mac said yesterday.

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell to a record low of 4.78% earlier this year. But they rose to as high as 5.6% last month after yields on long-term government debt, which are closely tied to mortgage rates, began to climb amid inflation concerns. Since then, the yields have eased.

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