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Friday, December 07, 2012

NPR Ombudsman

Partisan Cliffhanging Over A Supposed Fiscal Cliff

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Feb. 29, 2012 and adds the phrase "fiscal cliff" to the national lexicon.

December 7, 2012 Metaphors can be great for framing the urgency of a problem, but what do you do when the image isn't accurate? If you are the president or a Republican Congressional leader, you keep hammering with the metaphor anyway. It's all Ben Bernanke's fault.

Summary

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Planet Money

The Fed's Other Big Power

Give us a sign.

September 13, 2012 The Fed has the power to create money. But it has another, critical power: The power of words.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Two-Way

Housing Starts Hit Four-Year High

In Phoenix earlier this month, workers were framing this new home.

July 18, 2012 At an annual rate of 760,000, ground-breaking for construction of single-family homes, apartments and condominiums the pace rose 6.9 percent in June from May

Summary

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Two-Way

In 'Dour' Report, Fed's Bernanke Says Economy Has Decelerated

July 17, 2012 Though the central bank expects "moderate" economic growth in coming quarters, Bernanke offers a sober assessment of current conditions. But there is brighter news: Home builders say they're growing more confident about the housing sector's recovery.

Summary

Thursday, June 07, 2012

The Two-Way

Economy Is Poised For More Growth, But 'Fiscal Cliff' Looms, Bernanke Says

A word cloud of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's prepared testimony to the congressional Joint Economic Committee.

June 7, 2012 The Federal Reserve chairman sees reasons for growth to continue. But he warns that automatic spending cuts and the expiration of the so-called Bush tax cuts threaten to derail the recovery.

Summary

The Two-Way

After Big Gain, Markets Look To Rise Again; All Eyes On Bernanke

June 7, 2012 The Federal Reserve chairman talks about the outlook for the economy this morning. Investors will listen closely for clues to the Fed's plans.

Summary

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Two-Way

Will Fed Chairman Bernanke Be Right This Time?

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke during his congressional testimony today.

February 29, 2012 Five years ago on the last day of February, he told Congress the economy's fundamentals were strong. On this last day of February 2012, he predicted that inflation will remain in check.

Summary

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Two-Way

Fed: Economy Is 'Expanding Moderately,' But No Change In Rates

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke during his news conference this afternoon.

January 25, 2012 The central bank also says it likely won't be switching gears and nudging interest rates higher until at least 2014. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke concedes its longer-term forecasts are "a best guess."

Summary

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Planet Money

In Search Of A Goldilocks Banking System

June 8, 2011 There's always a trade off in finance between safety and economic growth. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon square off.

Summary

Friday, January 07, 2011

The Two-Way

'Self-Sustaining Recovery' In Spending Is Taking Hold, Fed's Bernanke Says

File photo: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke; Nov. 23, 2010.

January 7, 2011 But the Fed chairman says economic growth is likely to remain too slow to significantly boost job growth — and that the nation's unemployment rate will likely still be at 8 percent or above two years from now.

Summary

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

It's All Politics

Jon Stewart Busts Fed Chair Ben Bernanke On 'Printing Money'

December 8, 2010 Bernanke contradicted himself on the same news show inside a year regarding the Fed's "printing money." The central banker told 60 Minutes a year ago the Fed was printing money. Now he says it isn't — and blames it all on a myth.

Summary

Friday, November 19, 2010

It's All Politics

Fed Up! Bernanke (Gently) Takes On Critics

Ben Bernanke in Frankfurt

November 19, 2010 Bernanke said the Fed's $600 billion Treasury bond buywas just another way to do what the Fed does when it lowers key interest rates. The alternative, he said, was to risk more unemployment and economic woes in the U.S. and eventually the world.

Summary

The Two-Way

Bernanke Blasts Countries Who Keep Their Currencies Low

Ben Bernanke

November 19, 2010 Speaking in Frankfurt the Fed Chairman bluntly criticized countries who keep their currency undervalued. He says any problems caused them by the Fed plan, are basically their own fault.

Summary

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

It's All Politics

Ben Bernanke In Political Crossfire Again For Throwing Money Around

Ben Bernanke

November 9, 2010 Bernanke will appear to ignore political pressures since markets want him to appear independent.

Summary

Thursday, September 02, 2010

The Two-Way

Bernanke: Too-Big-To-Fail Problem Will Fade

Ben Bernanke

September 2, 2010 Fed Chair Ben Bernanke was optimistic that the too-big-too-fail problem will shrink because of market and regulatory forces. Members of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission weren't so sure.

Summary

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