The policymakers at the Federal Reserve have concluded that the US economy’s recovery is still not strong enough for an end to stimulus measures. <br /><br />So the US central bank will continue to buy $85 billion worth of bonds per month for the time being as part of moves to keep borrowing costs low for ordinary Americans. <br /><br />Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Vice Chair Janet Yellen, who is set to succeed him, continue to focus on persistently high unemployment.<br /><br />As they met we learned that US private-sector employers hired the fewest number of workers in six months in October.<br /><br />The labour market has shown “some” further improvement, the Fed said, tempering its description after a recent weakening in the jobs figures.<br /><br />Weaker factory output and home sales had suggested the world’s biggest economy was losing momentum even before the bitter budget battle in Washington triggered a 16-day long government shut down which dented consumer and business confidence.
