Bernanke Signals Further Easing Unlikely

Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is signaling that further Federal Reserve stimulus is unlikely unless the economy unexpectedly deteriorates.

The labor and housing markets have shown signs of improvement, and growth will “pick up gradually” after remaining “moderate,” the Federal Open Market Committee said yesterday in Washington, repeating a plan to keep borrowing costs low until at least late 2014. Fed officials also upgraded their projections for economic growth, inflation and the unemployment rate for this year.