Fed again leaves interest rates unchanged

Fed officials in a unanimous move left their target for short-term interest rates at 5.25%,

the highest in 61/2 years,

following the conclusion of their two-day meeting Thursday.

The Fed has not changed rates since June 2006 after raising them 17 times over two years.

Inflation has moderated in recent months but still remains on the high side of what some Fed officials, including Bernanke, have deemed their comfort zone of 1% to 2%.

The Fed's preferred inflation measure, based on spending excluding food and energy, was 2% in April, down from 2.4% in February.