japo2
02.04.08, 17:16
Nawet juz chairman Ben "Helokopter" Bernake uzywa slowa recesja ,
ktorego powinien sie wystrzegac jak ognia.......... a Wall Street
reaguje radoscia pijanego wariata. Smieszna ta Ameryczka.Oj,
smieszna !
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress on Wednesday
that the economy may shrink over the first half of this year and
that "a recession is possible." Yet, he didn't offer any assurances
of further interest rate cuts.
Bernanke's testimony to the Joint Economic Committee was a much
more pessimistic assessment of the economy's immediate prospects
amid a trio of crises — housing, credit and financial.
It now appears likely that gross domestic product (GDP) will not
grow much, if at all, over the first half of 2008 and could even
contract slightly," Bernanke told lawmakers. GDP measures the value
of all goods and services produced within the United States and is
the best barometer of the United States's economic health. Under
one rule, six straight months of declining GDP, would constitute a
recession.
To try to limit the damage, the Federal Reserve has aggressively
cut a key interest rate, now at 2.25 percent, to spur buying and
investing by individuals and businesses. At the Fed's last meeting
in March, however, two members dissented from the Fed's decision to
sharply cut rates, showing a rare division in the often unified
front the Fed shows the public. The dissenting officials, who had
reputations for being extra concerned about inflation, favored a
smaller reduction. Although Bernanke said he hopes inflation will
moderate in coming quarters, he acknowledged that high energy
prices have clouded the inflation outlook.
Housing, credit and financial woes are threatening to push the
country into a deep recession. The situation has emerged as a top
concern for presidential contenders and a hot-button issue for
Congress. It has thrust the White House and the Fed in crisis-
management mode.
Faced with mounting home foreclosures and job losses, Bernanke has
been under immense political and public pressure to provide relief
and help turn around a faltering economy.
