51.   U.S. bonds rose as reports that retail sales fizzled during the last days of the Christmas shopping season buoyed expectations economic growth and inflation will stay in check.

52.   We had a rollicking expansion all right, but inflation stayed tame.

53.   Yet inflation stayed quiet.

54.   Yet the central bank may be less grudging next year as the economy plods along and inflation stays low, say some investors.

55.   Analysts in the City business district had expected inflation to stay steady, saying many taxes and prices remained the same.

56.   In the logic of the bond market, slow growth is good news because it improves the odds that inflation will stay at bay.

57.   The report was viewed as evidence that economic activity may be slowing to a point where the Federal Reserve will be satisfied that inflation will stay under control.

58.   A rate cut this year would allow inflation to stay below the economic growth rate, he said.