THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 13, 1995               TAG: 9504130524
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Daily Digest 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   22 lines

CONSUMER PRICES RISE ONLY SLIGHTLY, A GOOD SIGN

Consumer inflation in March edged up by the smallest amount this year as a big drop in energy prices helped offset sharp increases in airline fares, auto loans and hotel rooms. Many economists said the report, which followed benign news on wholesale prices, showed that inflation is not getting out of control and would allow the Federal Reserve to refrain from boosting interest rates, possibly for the rest of this year. The consumer price index edged up 0.2 percent in March, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. (Associated Press) by CNB