Bernanke Hints Of Further Rate Cuts

AP:

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday hinted that another interest rate cut may be needed to bolster the economy. The worsening credit crunch, a deepening housing slump and rising energy prices probably will create some "headwinds for the consumer in the months ahead," he said.

Bernanke said he expects consumer spending will continue to grow and suggested the country can withstand the current problems without falling into a recession. But he indicated that consumers could turn more cautious as they try to cope with all the stresses.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[olephart]

It's strange that when a proposal was made to spend 35 billion over 5 or 10 years (can't remember which) the Publicans threw a hissy fit. The Fed has dumped more than 120 billion into the banking system and no one has said a thing. The Fed has also lowered interest rates in its attempts to bail our the Banks and Wall Street. This has led to a lower Dollar and higher oil ($20 per barrel). The increased oil price has cost Americans about 350 million a day for the last 3 months. That's about 35 billion. Funny how we can't afford health care for children but can easily afford higher oil and bank bail outs. Now where's all my Publican friends, I want to see a good hissy fit.

[getoffmedz]

Yet another rate cut will blow away the dollar, increase the prices of necessities, deal another blow to the Middle Class by prompting MORE recession and temporarily bolster the stock markets but only temporarily.

Most importantly it will make the "Bush economy" appear to be sound until the the Democrats return to power in 2009.

Just financial hokum and pokem. Guess who the "pokees" will be?

Will China become the next fatted-calf in time or is all this horseshit killing the Golden Goose?

[ajax2]

If the Fed cuts again in December look for the Bush Dollar (.50 cents) to fall again, and Inflation will continue to rise throughout 2908. That is the price for printing more money. M3, no longer reported, is up 10% and climbing.

[VivaZapata]

There is this pretense that the federal reserve acts in accordance with the economic well being of the United States in mind; they act in their own interests, and they are the a conglomerate of the world's wealthiest. The average American can not be squeezed much further as the cost of food and energy continue to pinch him/her. The spiral of defaulting, on credit card debt and especially mortgages, will increase over time. The printing of money is nothing more than a short term delaying tactic, so members of the federal reserve can safeguard their own interests. Dump them, not dollars, before it's too late.

[loki]

The Fed, which is nothing more than a consortium of the largest banks, and has nothing to do with the US gov, besides controlling it through economic power and extortion, will keep on bailing out its good wealthy buddies at the expense of the masses.
Im not sure about this, but I've actually heard that the Federal Reserve is actually illegal and against the constitution and laws of the US. Anyone have a clue about this?? Not like laws actually apply to the uber wealthy in America, but Im just interested.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Next week, the dollar will be trading at:
8*10^567th to one euro...

[Pdubya]

ah yes, fix inflation with inflation.

lowering interest rates = print more money.

Hello NAU, goodbye America.

Hello, Patriot Act, Homegrown Terrorism Act, Military Commissions Act, goodbye Constitution

Hello "harmonization", goodbye middle class

Hello Tyranny, goodbye Republic

thanks CFR, SPP, Fed Reserve, WTO

[mmckinl]

The privately owned and operated Fed is the piggy bank for the oligarchs as represented by the money center banks ... They even had a name for it :The Greenspan Put ! Now helicopter Ben is the guarantor of the greed.

We need to nationalize the Fed and reinstitute Glass-Steagall

[wiseferret]

just what is a rate cut going to help? Making more credit is akin to throwing good money after bad. What investor is going to pick up more credit risk while holding those bundles that may or may not be loaded with bad loans? The USA economy and generally stagnant wages are don't make us look like good investments either. Already indebted people without increasing earning power are a bad credit risk.
Oh, right, that's how all the sub-prime mortgages worked...
So, the lenders just want to loan more? (by having lower fed rates)
The rate should go up to temper the other issue and the lenders reminded of the reality of market RISK. You play, you pay.

[knowhelpnow]

That is just what we need another rate cut to devalue the American dollar some more. This is crazy talk, the market is out of it's mind and people don't seem to think that all of this could come crashing down to not just a recession but a blow out depression. We over spend, no savings, tax cuts for the rich, and China and other foreign countries buying up America. They said that we would destroy ourselves from with in, well if we don't stop this credit spending we will.

[Fuji]

Leave a tender moment alone, Ben.

[mrcontinental]

Hinted my ass, he has PROMISED a rate cut.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

It does not look like Ben wants to cut rates but his handlers in the Bush administration will not let him keep the rates in their current state. Cut it Ben. Lets keep pushing the inevitable. Trying to push the issue to the next president is just what you would expect from a fuck up like Bush.

[biwee]

What does the Fed (a PRIVATE bank, partly owned by foreigners) want? To defend the sinking dollar, a rate cut is not wise. To fight inflation, a rate cut is not wise. To help the dummy American consumers continue their foolish materialistic consumerism, a rate cut is coming. The effect will be short-lived and, in the longer run, ineffective.