COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is
expressing concern that the economy isn't growing fast enough to
significantly reduce unemployment.

Bernanke says the economy needs growth of 2 percent to 2.5
percent just to create enough jobs to accommodate new people
looking for work.

The Fed chairman is also signaling concern about the 6.2 million
people unemployed for more than six months, who amount to 42
percent of all unemployed Americans.

Bernanke says that problem could contribute to an unusually high
unemployment rate even as the economy returns to health.