Bullard: Fed may not wait for normal unemployment

LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - St. Louis Federal Reserve chief James Bullard said on Wednesday that it was unlikely that for the Fed would wait for unemployment to reach normal levels before removing monetary accommodation.

Bullard, seen as a centrist on the Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, also said there were a lot of differences of opinion on the FOMC and that he saw the April policy meeting as the best time to make any changes.

Speaking at a dinner event in London, Bullard said the most logical exit sequence from the U.S. quantitative easing program was to first change the language, move the "extended period" phrase "off the table" and then raise rates.

The Fed in its policy statement following its March meeting, had reiterated its pledge to keep interest rates at very low levels for an extended period.

In reply to audience questions following his speech, Bullard said he did not expect the U.S. housing situation to worsen and that he saw household consumption improving.

Bullard also said he thought that this tightening cycle would be more difficult than previous cycles in 1994 and 2004. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Leslie Adler)