Inflation accelerates in some sectors. (Brief Article)

Overall, inflation is well under control in the U.S. economy. The consumer price index has averaged under 3 percent so far this year and is expected to remain in the 3 percent range into next year as well. Keeping the overall inflation rate down are industries such as health care and pharmaceuticals (under fire from health care reform efforts) and products from industries that are restructuring -- airlines, communications, computers and some types of machinery.

At this late stage in the economic cycle, however, inflation pressures are bound to arise in the more volatile