FACTBOX-U.S. Fed policy-makers' recent comments

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The following is a summary
of recent comments by Federal Reserve policymakers:

* Denotes 2009 voting member of the Federal Open Market
Committee, which sets U.S. monetary policy.

* FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE, SEPT 15:

"Even though from a technical perspective the recession is
very likely over at this point, it's still going to feel like a
very weak economy for some time as many people will still find
that their job security and their employment status is not what
they wish it was. And so that's a challenge for us and all
policymakers," he said at a Brookings Institution conference in
response to an audience question.

"Of course there are risks on both sides of that forecast.
We could have a stronger recovery, we could have a weaker
recovery. But if we do in fact see moderate growth, but not
growth much more than the underlying potential growth rate,
then unfortunately unemployment will be slow to come down."

* SAN FRANCISCO FED PRESIDENT JANET YELLEN, SEPT 14:

"Our foot is down on the pedal of stimulus as far as we can
possibly go," she told reporters.

"If you think that the economy has the potential to grow at
2.5 percent, then you need GDP growth at that level just to
tread water on the unemployment rate," said Yellen.

* RICHMOND FED PRESIDENT JEFFREY LACKER, SEPT 14:

"We've authorized a certain amount (of asset purchases). So
before we get to thinking about exit, we may need to consider
whether to continue adding more stimulus up to the fully
authorized amount of our purchases," he told reporters.

"Obviously the state of the economy influences how you
think about these things, but also the state of bank balance
sheets and the financial system should also be an influence.
But I have not made up my mind yet," Lacker said.

* FED VICE CHAIRMAN DONALD KOHN SEPT 10:

"Paying interest on reserve balances also has important
benefits and will play a key role in our exit from unusually
accommodative policies when the time comes," Kohn said.

"As the FOMC has said, that time is not likely to come for
an extended period," he said.

* ATLANTA FED PRESIDENT DENNIS LOCKHART, SEPT 10:

"Overall, the U.S. economy is improving but still fragile,"
Lockhart said in his speech. "Stabilization is proceeding, and
the first stages of recovery are under way," he said.

* CHICAGO FED PRESIDENT CHARLES EVANS, SEPT 9:

Asked how much longer the Fed will stand by its zero
interest rate policy, Evans said: "I think the markers for that
will be when the recovery takes hold, when unemployment starts
coming down, when it's firmly embedded in the outlook, when
businesses are truly forward-looking."

"We're looking for what a lot of people would describe as a
'U'-shaped recovery. It's not going to be a strong expansion
coming out of this and that's going to be associated with the
rise in unemployment," Evans said.

DALLAS FED PRESIDENT RICHARD FISHER, SEPT 9:

"Given the lag between the time monetary policy is
initiated and when it impacts the economy, that wind-down
process needs to begin as soon as there are convincing signs
that economic growth is gaining traction," Fisher said.

"We are likely to see a prolonged period of sluggish
economic performance and uncomfortably high unemployment as
businesses reallocate capital and labor to fit the new economic
landscape," he said.

TEXT OF FED STATEMENT FROM AUG 11-12 MEETING:

"Information received since the FOMC met in June suggests
that economic activity is leveling out. Conditions in financial
markets have improved further in recent weeks. Household
spending has continued to show signs of stabilizing but remains
constrained by ongoing job losses, sluggish income growth,
lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Businesses are still
cutting back on fixed investment and staffing but are making
progress in bringing inventory stocks into better alignment
with sales. Although economic activity is likely to remain weak
for a time, the Committee continues to anticipate that policy
actions to stabilize financial markets and institutions, fiscal
and monetary stimulus, and market forces will contribute to a
gradual resumption of sustainable economic growth in a context
of price stability.

"The prices of energy and other commodities have risen of
late. However, substantial resource slack is likely to dampen
cost pressures, and the Committee expects that inflation will
remain subdued for some time.

"In these circumstances, the Federal Reserve will employ
all available tools to promote economic recovery and to
preserve price stability. The Committee will maintain the
target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and
continues to anticipate that economic conditions are likely to
warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for
an extended period.

"As previously announced, to provide support to mortgage
lending and housing markets and to improve overall conditions
in private credit markets, the Fed will purchase a total of up
to $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and up
to $200 billion of agency debt by the end of the year. In
addition, the Fed is in the process of buying $300 billion of
Treasury securities. To promote a smooth transition in markets
as these purchases of Treasury securities are completed, the
Committee has decided to gradually slow the pace of these
transactions and anticipates that the full amount will be
purchased by the end of October. The Committee will continue to
evaluate the timing and overall amounts of its purchases of
securities in light of the evolving economic outlook and
conditions in financial markets. The Fed is monitoring the size
and composition of its balance sheet and will make adjustments
to its credit and liquidity programs as warranted."
(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by James Dalgleish)