FED: Economy in 2010 will be Better than Previously Forecast

[Clio the Leo]

Federal Reserve sees slightly better 2010 economy
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve officials have a slightly brighter view of the economy than they did at the start of the year.

Fed officials say in an updated forecast that they think the economy can grow between 3.2 percent and 3.7 percent this year. That's an upward revision from a growth range of 2.8 percent to 3.5 percent in their January forecast.

The Fed's latest forecast sees the unemployment rate, now at 9.9 percent, dipping to between 9.1 percent and 9.5 percent by year's end. In the January forecast, the Fed didn't think unemployment would dip below 9.5 percent this year. The Fed prepared the latest forecast for its late-April meeting.

The Fed predicts an inflation gauge tied to consumer spending - excluding volatile food and energy costs - will rise just 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent this year. In January, the officials forecast an increase in prices of 1.1 percent to 1.7 percent.

The Fed's updated outlook was prepared at its last meeting, April 27-28, and released Wednesday. It's roughly in line with an Associated Press survey of leading economists done about a month earlier. According to the AP's survey, the economy will grow 3 percent this year, and the unemployment rate will inch down to 9.3 percent by year's end.

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