WASHINGTON: The US economy is showing signs of more life after a less-than-stellar start to the year.

The government said that first-quarter growth, while disappointing, wasn’t as bad as first thought. And a number of more recent indicators are showing decent gains in key areas like consumer spending and housing.

All the signs point to an economy that has probably doubled its momentum this quarter. But faster growth also raises the prospect that the Federal Reserve will want to nudge interest rates higher.

Federal Reserve Chairperson Janet Yellen said exactly that at an appearance at Harvard University. She noted that after weak growth in the fourth quarter of last year and the first three months of this year, it “looks to be picking up from the various data that we monitor.”

She said if the growth continues and the labor market keeps improving, then “probably in the coming months, such a move (rate hike) would be appropriate.”

Yellen, who stressed that the Fed’s plan is to raise rates “gradually and cautiously,” did not specify when exactly a rate hike might occur.