Fed keeps key rate unchanged, noting slower US growth

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday citing slower growth in the US economy even as the labor market strengthens. The Fed stuck to its stance that US monetary policy will tighten only gradually and gave no hint as to whether it could lift the short-term federal funds rate at its next meeting in June. Instead, it suggested that domestic growth -- generally thought to have slowed to about a 0.9 percent annual pace in the first quarter -- and still-weak inflation