（第１２回）ベルナンキが中央銀行代表としてはじめての記者会見

Bernanke Meets the Press in a First for US Central Bank
ベルナンキが中央銀行代表としてはじめての記者会見

こんにちは。
今日の話題は、アメリカ金融制度のトップの記者会見の話です。長い歴史の中で
記者会見は初めて開催されたようです。

それでは、単語から
[Words]
the Federal Reserve 連邦準備制度
short-term interest rate 短期金利
anticipate 予想する
subdued 落ち着いた
warrant 正当化する
exceptionally 並外れた
blame 非難する
quantitative easing 量的緩和
QE2 量的金融緩和策第二弾
monetary policy 金融政策


それでは、放送を聞いてみましょう。

[Sound - Web]
http://www.voanews.com/templates/mediaDisplay.html?mediaPath=http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/learningenglish/dalet/se-econ-fed-29apr11.Mp3&mediaContentID=120899714

[Sound - MP3]
http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/learningenglish/dalet/se-econ-fed-29apr11.Mp3

[Transcript]
This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Central bankers have to choose their words carefully. So they often say
little in public -- or little that makes sense. But the United States
central bank says it is trying to be more clear and timely in
communicating its policies.

The latest example: a press conference by Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Wednesday's event was the first of its kind in the ninety-eight-year
history of the Federal Reserve.

In his opening comments. Mr. Bernanke explained a decision by the
Federal Open Market Committee to leave its main short-term interest rate
near zero. The committee had just completed a two-day meeting.

BEN BERNANKE: "The committee continues to anticipate that the economic
conditions -- including low rates of resource utilization, subdued
inflation trends and stable inflation expectations -- are likely to
warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate for an
extended period."

In other words, the economy is not growing fast enough to worry about
inflation. A reporter asked what an "extended period" means to the Fed.
Mr. Bernanke said it suggests "a couple of meetings probably" but it all
depends on the economy.

The chairman said it is very hard to blame the American public for being
impatient with the speed of the recovery. But he pointed out that
unemployment is still high -- 8.8 percent in March. Oil and gasoline
prices are high. And the housing market remains very weak.

The committee said it will complete purchases of six hundred billion
dollars in Treasury securities in June. The Fed launched the bond buying
program late last year in an effort to keep interest rates low and
strengthen the economy.

Some economists say this second round of what is known as quantitative
easing, or "QE2," has not been effective. Mr. Bernanke disagreed and
pointed to examples like gains in stock prices.

The Fed has two main goals for its monetary policy: the highest possible
employment rates and stable prices. The bank faced criticism for
intervening either too little to some critics or too much to others in
the financial crisis.

The press conference produced no surprises. Yet, as recently as the
middle of the nineteen nineties, the Fed did not even release its
decisions or its interest rate targets to the public.

Today the Fed is trying to reach out to Americans through ways like this
video on its website.

BEN BERNANKE: "Hi, I'm Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve
System. The Fed, as it's often called, is the central bank of the United
States … "

The Fed announced in March that Mr. Bernanke will hold four press
briefings a year. The next of three planned for this year will follow a
decision on interest rates in June.

And that’s the VOA Special English Economics Report. I’m Mario Ritter.


どうでしたか。
それでは、記事に関しての質問です。
(Q.1) Who is the Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve?
(Q.2) What are the Fed's two main goals?
(Q.3) When will Mr. Bernanke hold press briefing next time?

(A.1) Ben Bernanke.
(A.2) The goals are the highest possible employment rates and stable
prices.
(A.3) Next briefing will held in June.

(Q.1) 誰がアメリカ連邦準備制度理事会議長ですか。
(Q.2) 連邦準備制度の２つの大きな目標は何ですか。
(Q.3) ベルナンキの記者会見は次回いつ開催されますか。

(A.1) ベン・ベルナンキ
(A.2) 出来る限り高い雇用率と安定した物価
(A.3) 次回は６月に開催されます。


いかがでしたでしょうか。
金融関連の話題は、少し単語が難しいですね。

それでは。
また次回。
See you next time.