A. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to control inflation.
The goal described in the excerpt is to control inflation, which is the rise in prices of goods and services over time. In order to achieve this goal, the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates, making it more expensive for people and businesses to borrow money. This would slow down spending and investment, which in turn would reduce demand for goods and services and help to control inflation. The raising of interest rates would affect the U.S. economy by making it more difficult for people to borrow money, which could slow down economic growth and reduce consumer spending. However, it would also help to control inflation, which is important for maintaining a stable economy.