Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will headline a busy week of central-bank officials’ public remarks on Thursday. Investors and economists will be listening closely for clues about the Fed’s interest rate decision for December and the outlook for policy in 2025.

The Federal Reserve Thursday lowered interest rates for the second time this year, cutting the federal lending rate by a quarter point, or 0.25%. That brings the lending rate range to 4 1/2-4 3/4%.

Mortgage rates, in particular, surged last year to their highest level since 2000 but have since come down alongside inflation. But it's been a bumpy ride back to the bottom in recent weeks. What, then, does this latest Fed rate cut mean for mortgage interest rates? That's what we'll break down below.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Thursday for the second time in three months, likely setting the stage for a drop in borrowing costs.

The rate cut follows a half-point cut on Sept. 18. The short term rate is used for overnight loans among banks, but it plays a huge role in influencing many interest rates that consumers and businesses pay to borrow throughout the economy,

Following the Fed's 0.5% rate cut in September, mortgage rates went up, not down. Even though the central bank's policy decisions and economic outlook affect credit markets, the F

Jason Furman, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, says he expects the Federal Reserve to cut rates again in December, but after that, the pace of cutting will slow down. He's on "." (

The Federal Reserve has made two consecutive interest rate cuts but potential homebuyers are wondering when mortgage rates will drop. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady breaks down what this means.