WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials believe that a June interest rate hike is likely if at the central bank's next meeting in June if the economy keeps improving.

Fed officials decided against raising rates at its April meeting. But minutes of the gathering showed that there was a widely held view that it "likely would be appropriate" to raise rates at the June 14-15 meeting as long as the economy and labor markets continue to strengthen and inflation shows signs of accelerating.

The Fed boosted a key rate for the first time in nearly a decade in December but has passed up further quarter-point moves at three meetings this year after financial market turmoil in January slowed U.S. growth.