Bernanke Urges Congress To Take Close Look At Tax System, Spending

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, at a hearing Tuesday, told the Joint Economic Committee to consider the effectiveness and efficiency of the government’s tax and spending policies so as not to harm the economy. (0:18)

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Bernanke: Educational Inconsistencies Fuels Economic Inequalities

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifying at a Joint Economic Committee hearing Tuesday, told lawmakers that inequality in education is contributing to the income gap. (0:38)

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Weak Housing Market Continues To Slow Recovery, Says Bernanke

At a Joint Economic Committee hearing on the outlook of the economy Tueday, Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, cited the housing market as a factor contributing to slow economic recovery. (0:25)

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Bernanke: Cautious Consumers Contributing To Slow Recovery

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Joint Economic Committee Tuesday that consumer behavior is a contributing factor of the slow recovery. (0:19)

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Bernanke: Deficit Necessary In Short Term, But Unstainable In Long Term

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says Thursday that while the current deficit in the short term is necessary given the state of the nation’s economy, the trajectory of the economy is unstainable. (0:22)

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Bernanke: Small Businesses Not Currently Able To Create Jobs

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says economic hardships that small businesess face are hurting job creation in the United States. (0:19)

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Ron Paul To Bernanke: Inflation Hurts Consumers

During a hearing featuring testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) says that inflation devalues currency and hurts consumers. (0:43)

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Bernanke: U.S. Must Address Short Term And Long Term Fiscal Issues

Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, says that the U.S. must work towards reducing the deficit and adressing short term concerns. (0:24)

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Bernanke: Short-Term Unemployment Can Lead To Permenant Unemployment

Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, says that short-term unemployment can lead to workers’ skills eroding, demoralization, and permenant unemployment. (0:48)

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Bernanke: Wall Street Reform Bill Could Prevent Future Economic Disasters

Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, says that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform bill could prevent future financial crises. (0:29)

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Bernanke: Estimated 2012 Unemployment Rate Still Too High

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says that by 2012, the U.S. unemployment rate is estimated to decrease to between six and seven percent. Bernanke says this drop does not meet the five percent unemployment rate necessary for a long-term sustainable economy. (0:34)
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Obama Renominates Bernanke

By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama interrupted his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard Tuesday to nominate Ben Bernanke to a second term as Federal Reserve Chairman.

Bernanke, who was initially appointed to the position by President Bush in 2006, was credited by Obama with preventing additional damage to the troubled U.S. economy.

“Ben approached a financial system on the verge of collapse with calm and wisdom; with bold action and outside-the-box thinking that has helped put the brakes on our economic freefall,” Obama said. “Almost none of the decisions that he or any of us made have been easy.”

The President went on to promise an overhaul of the financial regulatory system, describing it as a necessary step for economic recovery.

Bernanke will face a Senate confirmation hearing before embarking on his second term. Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee Chris Dodd released a statement Monday saying that although he believed Bernanke was the right choice, the Federal Reserve Chairman will nevertheless face a thorough review from the Committee. (6:18)


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Bernanke: Job Insecurity Will Continue To Affect Consumer Spending

Despite positive signs of economic recovery, "the rate of job loss remains high and the unemployment rate has continued its steep rise," says Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke. "Job insecurity, together with declines in home values and tight credit, is likely to limit gains in consumer spending," he said. (0:21)
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The Fed Has Improved Financial Conditions, Says Bernanke

"Many of the improvements in financial conditions can be traced, in part, to policy actions taken by the Federal Reserve to encourage the flow of credit," said Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke. Improvements include ensuring financial institutions’ access to short-term liquidity, increasing the stability of the banking system, lowering fixed mortgage rates, and restarting the securitization markets for small businesses and consumer credits. (0:54)
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The Fed Has A Recession Exit Strategy, Says Bernanke

"The extraordinary policy measures we have taken in response to the financial crisis and the recession can be withdrawn in a smooth and timely manner as needed," Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said to the House Committee on Financial Services Tuesday. (0:33)
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Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke Testifies for the House Budget Committee

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President Bush: We must restore confidence in the financial system

Speaking to reporters in the Rose Garden President George W. Bush, joined by the Chairmen of the Federal Reserve Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission Ben Bernanke and Chris Cox and the Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, speaks about government action in financial markets. Bush explains the current economic crisis and steps that the U.S. government is taking or plans to take to restore balance, liquidity, and investor confidence to the market. (9:04)
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Average of 94,000 jobs per month gone according to Bernanke

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke says that while our economy continues to slowly grow, private payroll employment declined this year falling at an average pace of 94,000 jobs per month through June. He also says the construction sector has been particularly hard hit. (:26)
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Bernanke predicts tight oil conditions for years to come

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke says that while global demand for oil remains high and supply stays the same, Americans can expect tight oil conditions for years to come. (1:36)
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Financial restructuring unlikely in short term says Federal Reserve Board Chairman Bernanke

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke says financial regulatory restructuring is not likely to happen in the short term, but is optimistic that the Reserve has enough tools now to address the current instabilities. (0:34)
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