Ben Bernanke Inflation Quotations

To support continued healthy growth, vigilance in regard to inflation is essential.

Although I expect policy to follow the usual gradualist pattern, the pace of tightening will of necessity respond to evolving economic conditions, particularly the strength of the ongoing recovery in the labor market and developments on the inflation front,

I believe that the Federal Reserve's success in reducing and stabilizing inflation and inflation expectations is a major reason for this improved economic performance.

Our assessment currently is that the risks to inflation are perhaps the more significant at the moment, and we need to address that.

A very important factor is the fact that inflation expectations are well-controlled and well-contained, which means that the Federal Reserve, unlike the 70s, doesn't have to react violently in terms of raising interest rates to contain the second- and third-round inflationary impacts. So I remain pretty optimistic about the economy,

Inflation is up, driven by energy prices. Underlying core rates remain low, which is encouraging.

Inflation is not even a remote risk in the U.S.. Because inflation is so low, monetary policy can afford to be patient to be sure that the recovery is sustained.

I see inflation as remaining well-contained going forward.

These inflation effects should fade even if energy prices remain elevated, so long as monetary policy keeps inflation expectations well-anchored.

The public has shown confidence that any increases in inflation will be temporary and that, in the long run, inflation will remain low.

When prices are stable, people can hold money for transactions and other purposes without having to worry that inflation will eat away at the real value of their money balances.

As we look ahead, core inflation appears likely to remain in the zone of price stability during the remainder of 2004 and into 2005,

Middle-income living standards, and poverty for that matter, are best addressed through employment growth. By maintaining low inflation and low expectations of inflation, you can create new employment.

Providing quantitative guidance about the meaning of 'long-term price stability' could have several advantages, including further reducing public uncertainty about monetary policy and anchoring long-term inflation expectations even more effectively,

After a long period in which the desired direction for inflation was always downward, the industrialized world's central banks must today try to avoid major changes in the inflation rate in either direction.

The inflation objective is explicitly a long-term or medium term objective. It focuses on, for example, core inflation to avoid getting involved in short-term fluctuations in energy prices and the like.

The credibility has begun to inure in the institution. Keeping inflation low and stable is an important precondition for a healthy and sustained economic growth.