The Fed Reality Series

"The Federal Reserve chairman, breaking with 98 years of central bank history, said yesterday he will hold four news conferences a year -- a move aimed at better countering sharp Republican criticism over the effect of his record economic stimulus plans....'Bernanke will have to stand up in front of the cameras to justify his policies,' added senior economist Michael Pento of Euro Pacific Capital. 'It's getting harder for him to convince the public there's no inflation while food and energy prices keep rising.'"