"The truth is probably somewhere between the two," said Lynn Reaser, chief United States economist at Bank of America.

Bill Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman Sachs, played down the importance of today's shift.

William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman Sachs, is predicting no change of heart.

"At the moment they're not really under any pressure," said Jan Hatzius, chief United States economist with Goldman Sachs.

Joe Lavorgna, senior United States economist with Deutsche Bank, said the first-quarter data indicated an annual growth rate of 5.8 percent.

William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman, Sachs, buttresses this view.

"There are two consequences to what's happened," said William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman, Sachs.

"They should have raised interest rates a year ago," said William Dudley, chief United States economist for Goldman, Sachs.

"We haven't learned a lot new today," said Ethan Harris, chief United States economist at Lehman Brothers.

Peter Hooper, chief United States economist at Deutsche Bank Securities, also noticed a difference.

"The truth is probably somewhere between the two," said Lynn Reaser, chief United States economist at Bank of America.

Bill Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman Sachs, played down the importance of today's shift.

William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman Sachs, is predicting no change of heart.

"At the moment they're not really under any pressure," said Jan Hatzius, chief United States economist with Goldman Sachs.

Joe Lavorgna, senior United States economist with Deutsche Bank, said the first-quarter data indicated an annual growth rate of 5.8 percent.

William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman, Sachs, buttresses this view.

"There are two consequences to what's happened," said William Dudley, chief United States economist at Goldman, Sachs.

"They should have raised interest rates a year ago," said William Dudley, chief United States economist for Goldman, Sachs.

"We haven't learned a lot new today," said Ethan Harris, chief United States economist at Lehman Brothers.

Peter Hooper, chief United States economist at Deutsche Bank Securities, also noticed a difference.