1.   Already administration officials are taking every opportunity to mention the benefits of low-priced imports, noting that they have helped contain inflation.

2.   Although commodity prices have been driven higher, the slowdown in the domestic economy to a more sustainable rate could contain these inflation pressures, Clarke said.

3.   And that helps the economy by spurring efficiency and containing inflation.

4.   Any oil shock would force the Fed to raise interest rates to contain inflation.

5.   Bond prices, which rallied in recent weeks as investors bet inflation would be contained, fell today, in part because the outcome was in line with expectations.

6.   Bonds plunged after the report amid concern that the economy could accelerate enough to prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to contain inflation.

7.   A wider inflation band, he said, may lead people to expect slightly higher inflation, or discourage the central bank from acting as fast to contain inflation.

8.   Budget deficits make it increasingly difficult to contain inflation.

9.   Chairman Alan Greenspan and other policy-making members had maintained all year that inflation was contained enough to permit the rate cuts.

10.   Economists said the strong Australian dollar had helped contain inflation.