Ernie Fitzpatrick asked: In case you haven't seen your 401(k) yet, it's most probably lower than the last quarter- much lower. It seems the retirement accounts are headed in the direction of gasoline prices. Falling commodities prices and weaker consumer spending are slowing inflation, which officials described as a significant concern at their last scheduled meeting in September. Inflation will return and with a vegence later, but not now. Thus the Fed decided today to lower the fed funds rate 50 basis points to ONE PERCENT.They don't have a lot of room yet to go unless they want to PAY US for borrowing. The Fed "will be very aggressive,'' said Mark Gertler, a New York University economist and research co-author with Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke. "Inflation risks are off the table'' and "the issue [+]