David Prosser: Bernanke does his best to talk us into a recovery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Outlook Does the US Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, really see some signs of green economic shoots out there? Back home, when Baroness Vadera dared to talk positive a couple of months ago, she was lampooned, yet Mr Bernanke's cautious optimism was a real shot in the arm for global stock markets yesterday.
Nor is the Fed alone in sounding a little more positive in recent days. The message coming out of the G20 finance ministers' summit over the weekend was that this is a recession that can be dealt with – that we will begin to recover in 2010 rather than facing a lasting depression.
In fact, the economic picture today is no better or worse than it was a week ago. What's interesting is that our global leaders seem to have taken a concerted decision to sound and look more optimistic. There is now a real fear that the constant stream of negative economic news and analysis will turn into a self-perpetuating cycle of despair.
Federal Reserve chairmen rarely do television interviews: Mr Bernanke's was the first for two decades. That he felt compelled to appear and to talk up the prospects of an early recovery tells its own story.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments