Fed Chair Ben Bernanke Says Monetary Policy Is Not a ‘Panacea’

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. economy is still at risk and the recovery is fragile, but Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifying on Capitol Hill Thursday, refused to be pinned down on what additional steps can be taken to spur economic growth.

Investors are closely watching Bernanke for signs of additional stimulus, or a third round of quantitative easing, known as QE3, to boost the sagging economy.  Earlier this week, three other Federal Reserve officials said the Fed may need to act to support economic growth.

During his testimony, Bernanke again said the Federal Reserve was prepared to act to boost the economic recovery and stressed the importance of the nation’s long-term fiscal stability.

“I don’t think we’re in a Greek situation,” Bernanke said in answer to a question about whether the U.S. economy is headed toward Greece’s debt issues.  Greece may have to exit the euro if it’s unable to borrow more to finance its debt.

“That being said, I don’t think we should be complacent,” Bernanke said.

Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist with Janney Capital Markets, said interest markets seem to believe Bernanke’s comments increase the odds of additional bond purchases as 10-year Treasury note prices increased 8/32nds of a percent as of about 11 a.m. ET.

Stock investors were more “modestly heartened,” LeBas said.

LeBas said it seemed clear that the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy-making group, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), is leaning towards additional stimulus at their upcoming meetings.

“For months, policymakers have been arguing that, if things get worse, they’ll need to add more stimulus,” LeBas said.  “Now, judging by the data, things are worse, and it follows that the Fed is likely to attempt to do more to boost economic output and stave off deflation risk.”

While economic growth has continued at a “moderate rate so far this year” and “appears to be poised to continue at a moderate pace over coming quarters,” Bernanke said in his testimony that some factors that have restrained the recovery persist.  Those include households and businesses more cautious to spend and invest as well as a depressed housing market.

The unemployment rate has fallen about 1 percentage point since last August but increased to 8.2 percent over last month.

“With unemployment still quite high and the outlook for inflation subdued, and in the presence of significant downside risks to the outlook posed by strains in global financial markets, the FOMC has continued to maintain a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy,” Bernanke said during his testimony.

The target range for the federal funds rate remains at 0 to 1/4 percent, and the FOMC still anticipates that economic conditions are likely to warrant “exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate” at least through late 2014, he said in his speech.

Members of Congress pressed Bernanke about whether the Federal Reserve was doing too much to interfere with the economy while others pressed him to act further.

“Monetary policy is not a panacea,” Bernanke said during the Q&A, adding that “it would be much better” to have a broad-based policy effort implemented by Congress.

“I would feel much more comfortable if Congress would take some of this burden from us and address these issues,” he said.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio