WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Reserve policymakers appear less keen to launch a fresh round of monetary stimulus as the economy gradually improves, according to minutes for the central bank’s March meeting.

Fed officials noted recent signs of slightly stronger economic growth but remained cautious about a broad pick up in U.S. activity, focusing heavily on a still elevated jobless rate.

MARIETTA, Ohio, April 2 (Reuters) – Federal Reserve
policymakers on Monday signaled little appetite for further
monetary steps to stimulate U.S. growth in an economy that is
gradually strengthening.

“With my current outlook, I think our policy stance is still
the one best suited to foster steady gains in output and
employment and to maintain stable prices,” Cleveland Fed
President Sandra Pianalto told a business group.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday it is too soon to declare victory in the U.S. economic recovery, warning against complacency in policymaking as the outlook brightens.

“We haven’t quite yet got to the point where we can be completely confident that we’re on a track to full recovery,” Bernanke told ABC News in a rare on-the-record interview.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday it is too soon to declare victory on the U.S. economy, warning against complacency in policymaking as the outlook brightens.

“We haven’t quite yet got to the point where we can be completely confident that we’re on a track to full recovery,” Bernanke told ABC News in a rare on-the-record interview.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – One of President Barack Obama’s nominees to the Federal Reserve said on Tuesday that if the economic recovery accelerates, the central bank should abandon its pledge to hold interest rates near zero until late 2014.

At a hearing to consider his nomination for a spot on the central bank’s Washington board, Harvard economist Jeremy Stein said changing economic conditions could alter the currently expected policy course.

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) – One of President Barack
Obama’s nominees to the Federal Reserve Board said on Tuesday it
would be appropriate for the central bank to start raising
interest rates before 2014 if the recovery accelerates.

In January, the Fed said the weak recovery means it is
likely to hold interest rates, which have been near zero since
December 2008, at exceptionally low levels until late 2014. The
central bank repeated that language in the statement released
after its March policymakers’ meeting.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve on Tuesday provided few clues on the prospects for further monetary easing, offering just a slight upgrade to its economic outlook while restating concerns about the high level of unemployment.

The central bank said it expects “moderate” growth over coming quarters with the unemployment rate declining gradually; in January, it said it expected “modest” growth.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday began a meeting where policymakers are likely to leave monetary policy on hold but not rule out further easing as they acknowledge a somewhat brighter economic outlook.

In the latest release pointing to strength following last week’s firm reading on employment, U.S. retail sales climbed 1.1 percent in February, the biggest gain in five months.

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal
Reserve on Tuesday is expected to hold a steady course on
monetary policy, acknowledging a mildly brighter economic
outlook while refraining from any suggestion that further easing
is now off the table.

Indeed, the U.S. central bank, sifting through conflicting
economic signals, is unlikely to offer much of anything in the
way of fresh clues on its policy course after its one-day
meeting.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – If you expect the Federal Reserve to launch another round of bond buying to stimulate growth at its meeting next week, you’re almost certain to be disappointed.

Similarly, if you think the Fed will declare that recent gains in the job market mean it’s time to throttle back its extraordinary support for the recovery, you’re also probably off base.