Some may interpret this weak performance as a sign that the energy shocks may have finally taken their toll.

I am not suggesting we should be complacent about the weak statistic for fourth-quarter growth.

The early data for January have been reasonably good.

The current account deficit is at a record level, as a percent of GDP (gross domestic product). We’re now at 6.5 percent. That is a very large number that cannot be sustained,

Removing the policy accommodation puts us in the strongest possible position to react as evolving economic conditions require.

The answer to how much higher the federal funds rate needs to go depends on how economic conditions unfold,

In the past several years consumers … have been very diligent in managing some of their debt in terms of refinancing to lower rates, but we’ll have to … keep our eye on this situation...