Bernanke Says Independence Produces ‘Better’ Economic Outcomes

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank’s independence from political interference in setting interest rates produces “much better results” for the economy.

“We are very, very sensitive to this issue,” Bernanke said today at a town-hall-style meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, taped for broadcast on PBS television this week. “We need to have some independence from Congress and the administration.”