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"In light of these developments, the Federal Reserve will need to consider whether the current stance of policy remains appropriate."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday signaled a readiness to lower U.S. interest rates in a dramatic shift to support an economy battered by a financial crisis of "historic dimension."
Recent economic data and financial developments show that the outlook for growth has worsened and downside risks to growth have gained, Bernanke said in remarks to the National Association for Business Economics. The outlook for inflation, while still uncertain, has improved somewhat as oil and other commodity prices have eased, he said.
"In light of these developments, the Federal Reserve will need to consider whether the current stance of policy remains appropriate," Bernanke said.
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