Federal Reserve
ORG
Fed Federal Reserve
Sharp increases in energy and food costs pushed consumer prices higher last month, but prices of other goods and services rose more modestly, the government reported. The report appears to allay fears that the increase in energy prices from last year would speed inflation in the broader economy, but analysts said they suspected it might not be enough to dissuade Federal Reserve policy makers from raising interest rates at least once and maybe twice before stopping. But many economists and Fed policymakers are not so certain that the current trend will hold.