Suspense Builds for Fed as Growth Downshifts and Inflation Lingers.

Recent economic data has raised concerns about stagflation, with higher-than-expected consumer price inflation in February and disappointing retail sales. This has led to speculation that growth could continue to slow while inflation remains stagnant, making it difficult for the Federal Reserve to cut rates this summer. However, economists argue that while growth is slowing, it is still solid, and inflation is lower than it was a few months ago. Industrial production has also shown signs of improvement. Overall, the US economy is entering a new phase, but it is not yet experiencing stagflation. [Extracted from the article]