BEN BERNANKE

US monetary policy is decided by the 12 members of the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee (FOMC). These are some of the most powerful individuals in the world.

U.S. consumer spending rose for an eighth straight month in February, but much of the gain went to cover rising food and energy prices, providing little lift to the economy.

U.S. consumer spending rose slightly more than expected in February for the eighth straight month of gains as households tapped their savings, government data showed on Monday, while inflation accelerated at its fastest pace since June 2009.

David Watt of RBC Capital Markets expects Plosser to not only vote against the Fed’s policy of quantitative easing, but also for a 25 basis point rate hike.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will break nearly 100 years of tradition at the U.S. central bank next month when he begins talking to the media after policy meetings.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will hold media briefings four times a year in a historic shift to greater openness at the traditionally secretive U.S. central bank.

(Corrects Lou Crandall comment to say the Fed's policy views since the beginning, and not since the Beijing.)

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will break nearly 100 years of tradition at the U.S. central bank next month when he begins talking to the media after policy meetings.

New financial regulatory reforms should help reduce the edge that large banks have over smaller ones because of their implicit support from government, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.

Earthquake in Japan. Unrest in the oil-producing Arab world. Sovereign-debt strains in Europe. Inflation in China.

National banking groups representing firms of all sizes are getting behind a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a crackdown on debit card processing fees.

Surging oil prices are deepening a split inside the Federal Reserve, blurring the likely direction of monetary policy and making next week's policy meeting all the more contentious.

There are no good outcomes, only bad, really bad, and catastrophic. Take your pick. Could gas prices drop below $3.00 per gallon if the world sinks back into recession? Yes. But it would only be momentary. The easy to access supply is dwindling. The medium and long term direction of gas at the pump is up. There is nothing that can be done in the next five years to prevent significantly higher oil prices.

Most economists believe the Federal Reserve's bond-purchase program is helping to support U.S. growth, though many remain skeptical, a survey released on Monday found.

Hiring by employers hit a nine-month high in February and the jobless rate slipped to a nearly two-year low of 8.9 percent, showing the economy is kicking into a higher gear.

Employers hired more workers in February than in any month since May last year and the unemployment rate fell to a near two-year low, the strongest sign yet the recovery has become self-sustaining.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is right to carry on with its cheap money policy to fight high unemployment, but policymakers must stay on guard for signs of inflation, two top Fed officials said on Thursday. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart, speaking in Tallahassee, Fla., said the Fed should stay vigilant for any rise in inflation

Employers hired more workers in February than in any month since May last year and the unemployment rate fell to a near two-year low, raising hopes the economic recovery has gathered critical momentum.

Employers probably hired more workers in February than in any month since May last year, recovering from extreme winter weather and raising hopes the economic recovery has gathered critical momentum.

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless aid hit the lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years last week and service sector hiring picked up in February, signs the labor market recovery was quickening.

The Federal Reserve Bank should continue to flood the economy with cheap money to fight high unemployment, but policymakers must stay on watch for signs of inflation, two top Fed officials said on Thursday.