Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank should maintain record monetary stimulus to boost an âunevenâ and âfrustratingly slowâ economic recovery.
âThe economy is still producing at levels well below its potential; consequently, accommodative monetary policies are still needed,â Bernanke, 57, said today in a speech to a conference in Atlanta. âUntil we see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we cannot consider the recovery to be truly established.â
Recent data showing weakness in the economy, including a rise in the unemployment rate to 9.1 percent in May, has increased the odds the Fed will hold the benchmark interest rate near zero into next year. At the same time, Bernanke and his fellow policy makers plan this month to complete a $600 billion bond purchase program, and theyâre discussing the tools theyâd use to withdraw stimulus, according to minutes of their meeting in April.
Bernanke said that while the recent increase in inflation is a âconcern,â he doesnât see âmuch evidence that inflation is becoming broad-based or ingrained in our economy.â Still, âthe longer-run health of the economy requires that the Federal Reserve be vigilant in preserving its hard-won credibility for maintaining price stability.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...licy-needed-for-uneven-economic-recovery.html
QE III = stimulus.
âThe economy is still producing at levels well below its potential; consequently, accommodative monetary policies are still needed,â Bernanke, 57, said today in a speech to a conference in Atlanta. âUntil we see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we cannot consider the recovery to be truly established.â
Recent data showing weakness in the economy, including a rise in the unemployment rate to 9.1 percent in May, has increased the odds the Fed will hold the benchmark interest rate near zero into next year. At the same time, Bernanke and his fellow policy makers plan this month to complete a $600 billion bond purchase program, and theyâre discussing the tools theyâd use to withdraw stimulus, according to minutes of their meeting in April.
Bernanke said that while the recent increase in inflation is a âconcern,â he doesnât see âmuch evidence that inflation is becoming broad-based or ingrained in our economy.â Still, âthe longer-run health of the economy requires that the Federal Reserve be vigilant in preserving its hard-won credibility for maintaining price stability.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...licy-needed-for-uneven-economic-recovery.html
QE III = stimulus.