Record-Low Interest Rates Still Needed for Recovery
The stock market is higher after testimony by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke before Congress. In his testimony, Mr. Bernanke stated that record-low interest rates are still needed to ensure that the US economic recovery will last. Mr. Bernanke struck a confident tone that the economic recovery will endure but he also sought to damp down expectations about a vigorous recovery. The numbers seem to bear out Mr. Bernanke's caution. Yesterday, the Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index fell almost 11 points to 46 in February, its lowest level since April 2009. At 46, the index is a…