In a development that will delight anyone who enjoys tiny numbers moving in the right direction, the average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 7.18 percent this week, according to Freddie Mac. That's a decline of 6 basis points - or, in layman's terms, 0.06 percent - from last week. It's the third straight weekly decline, following October's peak of 7.4 percent. So, congratulations: rates are still historically high, but slightly less so than before.

The 15-year mortgage rate, the one homeowners typically reach for when refinancing, also dipped, from 6.6 percent to 6.57 percent. That's four consecutive weeks of decline, proving that even broken clocks are right twice a day.

Meanwhile, stocks rallied on Friday after a bruising Thursday. The S&P 500 closed up 23 points, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 264 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended the week down 237 points from Thursday's close and more than 700 points below Monday's opening bell. So if you're keeping score at home: two out of three major indices had a good Friday, and the Dow is still sulking in the corner.

The Thursday selloff was driven by investors dumping tech shares over mounting concerns about AI-related debt that tech companies have racked up. Because nothing says 'innovation' like borrowing heavily to build chatbots that may or may not replace your customer service rep.

While the markets and mortgage rates offered a sliver of good news, Americans remain deeply concerned about affordability - a sentiment that helped Democrats achieve sweeping midterm victories this week. Democratic lawmakers and candidates campaigned on lowering the cost of living, as voters grapple with elevated gas prices due to the Iran war and persistently high grocery and healthcare costs. In an NBC News survey, more than 40 percent of voters said their family's financial situation had worsened over the past two years, while 38 percent said it had stayed the same and just 18 percent said it had improved. So, roughly four in ten people feel worse off, and the other six in ten are either treading water or part of the lucky minority who haven't noticed the price of eggs.

In other economic news, the U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in October, beating expectations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's the kind of number that sounds impressive until you remember it's just a statistic and not a guarantee that your rent will stop going up.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.) officially launched her bid for chair of the House Financial Services Committee on Friday, after Democrats won control of the lower chamber in the midterms. Because nothing says 'new era' like a committee chair race.

And in a move that will surprise absolutely no one, Elon Musk announced Friday that Tesla will wind down production of its Cybertruck next year after years of poor sales. The electric truck, which looked like a doorstop designed by a committee of edgy teenagers, will cease to be produced. We hardly knew ye - and by 'hardly,' we mean 'not at all.'

Meanwhile, John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said Friday that inflation remains too high amid multiple price shocks. He's targeting 2 percent, which is the economic equivalent of aiming for the moon but settling for a nice hill.

In other news from The Hill, House Democrats are champing at the bit over who will lead their efforts against the Trump administration's education agenda in the next Congress. Because nothing says 'unified opposition' like a three-way race for a committee spot.

And from other outlets: Democrats blasted the 'dangerous' elevation of Stephen Miller as chief of staff, calling it a refusal to learn from the election. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said 'there's a lot of questions' about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid an impeachment push from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). So, business as usual in Washington: rates go down, stocks go up and down, and everyone remains vaguely dissatisfied.