Washington ? Rates on 30-year mortgages hit their lowest level in four months after falling this week for the eighth time in the past nine weeks, according to an industry report.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday its weekly nationwide survey showed that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.62 percent, down from 5.65 percent last week.

The latest decline pushed the 30-year mortgage down to the lowest level since it dipped to 5.57 percent on Feb. 10, the low-point so far this year.

The steady decline in mortgage rates during the past two months has helped spur sales of both new and existing homes to record levels in April and analysts predicted further declines in rates would produce more strong sales in May.

“Given the low rates we experienced last month, we expect home sales will remain strong,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

But he said that an improving job market and rising wages will likely begin to put upward pressure on mortgage rates in coming months.

For 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular option for refinancing, rates dipped to 5.20 percent this week, down from 5.21 percent last week.