Bernanke Says Fed Has Stimulus Tools, Sees Growth Picking Up

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank still has tools to stimulate a recovery that has been weaker than forecast while sticking to his view that growth will pick up.

Bernanke, in a speech today to central bankers and economists at an annual forum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, didn’t give details on the measures the Fed might take or signal when or whether policy makers might deploy them. A second day has been added to the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting in September to “allow a fuller discussion” of the economy and the Fed’s possible response, Bernanke said.