Comments giving USD further slight lift, EUR/USD down at 1.2238, cable at 1.4655.

  • As economy recovers, extraordinarily low rates will not be needed
  • Will need to begin raising interest rates even while unemployment remains high
  • Consumer activity, business spending have been surprisingly strong
  • Recent European sovereign debt and banking pressures have added to uncertainty in markets
  • Consumer prices have slowed quite alot, inflation expectations stable, inflation not a major problem
  • Slow wage growth has the potential to crimp consumer spending for some time