Rates on 30-year mortgages across the United States edged down slightly this week after having risen for five consecutive weeks, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

In the week ending June 21, rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.69 percent, down from 6.74 percent last week, according to the mortgage giant's nationwide survey.

The decline followed five straight weekly increases which had pushed the 30-year rates up to 6.74 percent last week, the highest level in 11 months.

Other types of mortgages tracked by Freddie Mac also declined this week.

Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular choice for refinancing, decreased to 6.37 percent from 6.43 percent last week.

Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were down to 6.31 percent from 6.37 percent while rates on one-year ARMs dropped to 5.66 percent from 5.75 percent.

"Mortgage rates eased this week due to market concerns that the housing market will be a longer drag on the economy," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist.

A Commerce Department report released Tuesday shoed that new residential construction in the country fell in May by 2.1 percent, the biggest decline since a 13.9 percent plunge in January.

The fall left building activity 24.2 percent below the level ofa year ago.

A year ago, rates on 30-year mortgages were at 6.71 percent, 15-year mortgages stood at 6.36 percent, five-year ARMs averaged 6.32percent and one-year ARMs were at 5.75 percent.