The US Federal Reserve kept the benchmark lending rate unchanged on Thursday, highlighting the continued strong performance of the economy but also pointing to a slowdown in business investment.

The central bank repeated that it expected “further gradual increases” in the key interest rate as the economy continues to expand but the statement gave no clear signal on whether it would have to move more aggressively to head off inflation. In fact, it might be read as a sign the Fed believes the risk the economy will overheat may be retreating.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds rate at 2.0-2.25 percent at the conclusion of a two-day policy meeting and noted that inflation was running close to the central bank’s two percent target.