The United States' top monetary
official says the country's economy continues to grow and create jobs, but
is hindered by several factors, including negative developments in the
housing industry. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, where
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke at a hearing of Congress'
Joint Economic Committee.
If legislators were looking for
a clear-cut, decisive
prediction on the future of the U.S. economy, they did not get it from Ben
Bernanke. The U.S. central bank chief noted several positive trends that
suggest further economic expansion, including rising exports and continued
job creation.
"The continuing increases in employment, together with some pick-up in
real wages, have helped sustain consumer spending, which increased at a
brisk pace in the second half of last year, and has continued to be well
maintained so far this year," he said.
"Growth in consumer spending should continue to support the economic
expansion in coming quarters," he continued.
But Bernanke was quick to add that all is not well. In particular, he
pointed to a dramatic slowdown in America's once-booming housing market,
regarded as a primary engine of U.S. economic growth in recent years.
"To the downside, the correction in the housing market could turn out
to be more severe than we currently expect, perhaps exacerbated by
problems in the sub-prime sector," the Federal Reserve chairman said.
"Moreover, we could see yet greater spillover from the weakness in
housing to employment and consumer spending than has occurred thus far,"
he added.
The "sub-prime sector" refers to mortgages held by roughly 10 percent
of U.S. homeowners that often feature higher interest rates and sometimes
allow a homeowner to pay only the interest on their loan, thereby accruing
no equity. Such plans are generally offered to people with poor credit or
low income levels.
Foreclosures in the
sub-prime sector have skyrocketed in recent months, leading U.S. officials
and legislators to question the lending practices of some financial
institutions.
The Federal Reserve Board decides when and whether to raise or lower
interest rates, based on its reading of current economic conditions and
its projections of future ones. Many look to the Federal Reserve chairman
as America's top economic prognosticator.
Earlier this month, Bernanke's predecessor, Alan Greenspan, said there
is a one in three chance that the United States will slide into a
recession by year's end.
Speaking on Capitol Hill, Bernanke said there is insufficient evidence
to conclude that America's five-year economic expansion will "die of old
age." |