Bernanke Says Financial Crisis Damage Inhibiting U.S. Recovery

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said damage from the financial crisis has left the U.S. economy growing at a slower pace than policy makers want even as the central bank’s more than $1 trillion in bond purchases have reduced interest rates.

“By buying mortgage-backed securities and Treasuries we did, I think, additionally stimulate the economy,” Bernanke said yesterday in response to a question after he spoke at a Princeton University conference.