Mr. Clinton's budget plan would move toward higher prices, but would not reach those goals.

The bias is toward higher prices," he said, "especially with all the positive information about inflation.

White House officials expressed alarm about the trend toward fewer benefits and higher prices.

In its statement, the Fed used many of the same words that it did last month to describe its attitude toward prices.

But analysts said this reflected a trend toward lower prices for corporate insurance and did not suggest the company was in trouble.

Even with this movement toward lower prices, the impact so far has been limited.

Unfortunately, the trend toward lower prices is not part of the new regime.

But that pressure toward higher prices has so far been held in check by forces working in the other direction.

Indeed, some experts are convinced that the long-term trend is toward higher prices.

This is the reverse of Macy's approach, which has been to move toward higher prices.