Ahead of the Tape
Deflation Buzz</br></br>Drives Talk</br></br>Of a Rate Cut</br></br>After months of thinking the Fed's next move would be a rate increase, the market is suddenly toying with the idea of another cut.</br></br>Inflation seems to have buckled under the heft of a global economic slowdown. Crude-oil prices are down 27% from their July peak. The dollar has rallied, throwing more dirt on inflation -- though the temporary government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could change that. Even gold, investors' friend when prices rise, has declined.