Recent Federal Reserve Board member comments, plus improving economic readings, may mean this period of ultra-low interest rates is nearing an end. Higher oil prices have put a damper on consumer sentiment and should affect spending in the second quarter of 2011. Read more from NIFCU$ Fund Manager, Hillary Elder in this downloadable report. Learn more about the National Investment Fund for Credit Unions (NIFCU$) at http://www.nafcu.org/nifcus