The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Sept. 14, edition that the S&P 500 and Canada's TSX ended modestly higher on Wednesday as data showing a moderate increase in U.S. consumer prices in August cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged in September. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that consumer-related stocks led gains in Canada thanks to strong earnings from two of the country's retailers, Dollarama and North West Co. Data showed U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in 14 months in August as gasoline prices surged, but the annual rise in underlying inflation was the smallest in nearly two years. Interest-rate traders now see a 97-per-cent chance of the Fed holding rates in September, and a 61-per-cent likelihood of a pause in November. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 0.3 per cent. The Toronto market's consumer staples sector rose 1.2 per cent and consumer discretionary was up 0.6 per cent. It was helped by a gain of 5.9 per cent for Dollarama after the discount retailer beat quarterly sales estimates. Food and general products retailer North West Co. posted strong second quarter results. Its shares rose 14.7 per cent.