It showed an economy growing at a fast enough pace to accelerate inflation.
He sought to head off concerns that higher oil prices would accelerate inflation and prompt an increase in interest rates.
It also reduces the risk of higher import prices, which would accelerate inflation.
The slow sales eased concerns that a rebound in the economy would accelerate inflation.
The alternative is deficit spending, which could slow growth or accelerate inflation.
But it also showed labor strength could accelerate inflation.
He predicted that the program would accelerate inflation this month, before slashing it by April.
Many economists say that growth of more than 2.5 percent a year accelerates inflation.
This apparently eased concern that a resurging economy would accelerate inflation.
The Bank of England kept its rate at 4 percent, suggesting that an expected recovery is not yet strong enough to accelerate inflation.