Inflation drops bigger-than-expected 1.7%

WASHINGTON — A record plunge in consumer prices in November puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to act decisively to guard against a debilitating bout of deflation. The Fed wraps up a two-day meeting today. Economists expect the central bank to cut the federal funds rate, already at a low of 1 percent, by another half-point in an effort to keep the recession from worsening. For the full story click here