BenBernanke Articles - DailyFinance

Fed Sticks to Stimulus Plan, Warns Growth Hampered by Budget Cuts

The Fed is sticking with its bond-buying plan to push down borrowing costs and prop up the economy, citing risks to growth from recent budget tightening in Washington.

No Surprises Expected as Fed Ends 2-Day Meeting

The Federal Reserve is widely expected Wednesday to stick with its aggressive efforts to strengthen a still-subpar economy.

Fed Extends 'Twist' Program to Drive Interest Rates Lower

The Federal Reserve acted Wednesday to lift an economy that's being held back by a weakened job market, extending a program designed to spur borrowing and spending through lower long-term interest rates.

The Fed Has Decided to Do Nothing -- and That's a Good Thing

Here's a quick primer on the Fed, why you never want a central bank to have to do anything, and the reason why we all hang on Ben Bernanke's every word.

Fed Notes Better Economy, Takes No Policy Action

The Federal Reserve offered a more positive view of the economy after a burst of hiring since its last meeting. It held off taking further steps to boost the recovery and reiterated its plan to keep short-term interest rates near zero until at least late 2014. The Fed's statement issued after Tuesday's one-day meeting was more upbeat than the one it released in January.

All Areas of the Country Show Growth, Fed Reports

The U.S. economy started the year off well with busier factories, higher retail sales, more jobs and growth in home sales. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that all 12 of its banking districts reported some level of growth in January and the first half of February. Manufacturing output rose in all districts. Auto manufacturing, steel makers and other metal producers all reported solid growth.

Bernanke: Weak Housing Has Hurt Consumer Spending

Ben Bernanke says declines in home prices have forced many Americans to cut back sharply on spending warns that the trend could continue to weigh on the economy for years. The Federal Reserve chairman drew the connection between home values and consumer spending, which fuels 70 percent of economic activity, on Friday during a speech to the National Association of Home Builders in Orlando.

Fed Unlikely to Raise Rates Until at Least 2014

The Federal Reserve went further than ever Wednesday to assure consumers and businesses that they'll be able to borrow cheaply well into the future. The Fed pushed back the earliest date for any likely increase in its benchmark interest rate by at least a year and a half, until at least late 2014. It said record-low rates are still needed to help boost an improving but still sluggish economy.

Fed to Regularly Forecast Interest-Rate Changes

In a major shift, the Federal Reserve will start updating the public four times a year on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at record lows, according to minutes from its December policy meeting. The first forecast will be included in the central bank's economic projections after its Jan. 24-25 meeting, the minutes said.

Fed Takes No New Action at Final Meeting of 2011

The Federal Reserve says the economy has grown moderately as hiring and consumer spending have improved. As a result, it's holding off on any new steps to boost the economy. But Fed officials, noting that unemployment remains high and global economic growth has slowed, left open the possibility of taking new steps next year if the economy worsens.

Fed Nearing a Plan to Clarify Direction of Rates

The Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke has gone further than ever to explain its policies to the public. It's ready to go further still. A Fed policy meeting Tuesday will likely focus in part on an evolving plan to reveal the direction of interest rates more explicitly.

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