Fed chief Bernanke: U.S. economic recovery not yet self-sustaining

(MarketWatch) : Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told lawmakers on Wednesday that the economic recovery is not yet on a sustainable path, and that near-zero interest rates are still needed. Strong growth in the latter half of 2009 was fueled by temporary factors, Bernanke told members of the House Financial Services Committee. "A sustained recovery will depend on continued growth in private sector final demand," Bernanke said. There are some positive signs on the outlook, but the job market remains "quite weak," said the Fed chairman. The Federal Funds rate is likely to remain low for an "extended period," he said