Bernanke gives upbeat assessment of economy to U.S. senators

[riky]

Bernanke gives upbeat assessment of economy to U.S. senators

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/bernanke-gives-upbeat-assessment-economy-u-senators-204242490--sector.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/JIG9rmMmBOjmYnTfHrnbZQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-01-09T204242Z_1_CBREA081LK800_RTROPTP_2_CBUSINESS-US-USA-CONGRESS-BERNANKE.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke responds to reporters during his final planned news conference before his retirement, at the Federal Reserve Bank headquarters in Washington" align="left" title="U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke responds to reporters during his final planned news conference before his retirement, at the Federal Reserve Bank headquarters in Washington" border="0" /></a>Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday offered an optimistic view on the U.S. economy's prospects to Democratic senators, but warned that &quot;tough decisions&quot; were ahead on dealing with long-term budget deficits and healthcare costs, according to lawmakers present. Bernanke, whose term as chairman ends on January 31, told a private lunchtime meeting with senators that the reduction in federal budget deficits and the country's improving energy position were &quot;all positives&quot; contributing to a healthier U.S. economy, according to Senator Thomas Carper of Delaware. Carper added that Bernanke said that &quot;the next several years are more encouraging, but we can't forget those long-term challenges and they involve among other things programs that are concerned with healthcare.&quot; An aging U.S. population will put increasing pressure on the federal government as it struggles to provide retirement and healthcare benefits to the elderly, poor and disabled.</p><br clear="all"/>

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