U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said U.S. inflation will probably remain at or below the central bank's 2 percent target, aided by a reduction in energy prices after a first-half run-up.

The sharp drop in crude oil price in the past few months has brought inflation down, Bernanke said Wednesday in testimony to a U.S. House committee,

Bernanke also said the Fed is ready to take additional action to boost the economic frecovery, if necessary.

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Federal reserve Ben Bernanke Crude oil Quantitative easing