Say what you will about Alan Greenspan — and people have said plenty — the man is never predictable. The Federal Reserve Chairman made headlines again Tuesday, announcing a quarter-point raise in key interest rates. The hike, meant to stave off inflation in these times of hyperbolic growth and spending, caught some analysts off guard. "This raise is a bit unexpected," says TIME financial writer Bernard Baumohl. "There was a lot of uncertainty as to whether the Fed would move, since the economy has been showing signs of slowing down on its own." Example: Key consumer indicators such as retail sales and home purchases have eased in the past 10 months.