Fed expected to leave rates unchanged

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates at a record low this week, aiming to induce consumers and businesses to borrow and spend and bolster the economic recovery.

The big question is whether Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues will give hints about when they will reverse course and start boosting rates.

A decision to raise rates is still months away. But plans for reeling in the unprecedented amount of money the Fed has plowed into the economy is likely to dominate its private discussions Tuesday and Wednesday. The Fed is expected to announce its policy decisions on Wednesday afternoon.

The central bank faces a high-stakes challenge: If it removes the stimulus too soon, it could short-circuit the recovery. But if it moves too late, it could unleash inflation or new speculative asset bubbles. Each scenario could feed a fresh economic crisis.

Bernanke, who’s seeking a second term as Fed chief, has made clear his No. 1 task is sustaining the fragile recovery. Last week, he and other Fed officials signaled they are in no rush to start raising rates.

At the same time, Bernanke has sought to assure skeptical lawmakers and investors that when the time is right, he’s prepared to sop up all the money.

Some encouraging signs for the economy have emerged lately. The nation’s unemployment rate dipped to 10 percent in November, from 10.2 percent in October. And layoffs have slowed. Employers cut just 11,000 jobs last month, the best showing since the recession started two years ago.

Still, the Fed predicts unemployment will remain high because companies won’t ramp up hiring until they feel confident the recovery will last.