With the Feb 4 and Mar. 22 propels...

With the Feb 4 and Mar. 22 propels on the federal funds rate, the Federal set by Board made it clear that keeping inflation subject to wraps remains its No. 1 priority.

The increases in this guide rate -- essentially the interest that banks charge undivided another for overnight loans -- were a signal that the F will attack what it consider to be an incipient vexed question "pre-emptively," before the horse has left the barn. Although there are not many signs that inflation really is a puzzle today, the Fed is worried about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

The presum goal of the