Whatever might have once been thought about the existence of a 'Greenspan put,' stock market, investors could not have endured the experience of the last five years in the United States and concluded that they were hedged on the downside by asymmetric monetary policy.

If the past is any guide, the effect of rising interest rates is likely to be felt most visibly in housing markets.

At this juncture, given the apparent strength in demand and the narrowing margin on unused resources, I am focused on making sure that inflation and inflation expectations remain well anchored. I do not know how much policy firming will be needed to accomplish this objective.

The same considerations apply to homeowners. All else being equal, interest rates are higher now than they would be were real estate valuations less lofty, and if real estate prices begin to erode, homeowners should not expect to see all the gains of recent years preserved by monetary policy actions.

Between repetition and forgetting, it is a marvel that a new thought ever struggles into existence

God is a challenge because there is no proof of his existence and therefore the search must continue.