The Federal Reserve confirmed its commitment Wednesday to the six-week-old QE3 stimulus, saying that the U.S. economy still needed the support of its easy money programs.
In its last meeting before the U.S. presidential election -- which, if challenger Mitt Romney wins, could trigger an economic policy shift -- the Fed's rate-setting board chose to make no changes to its monetary stance.
Brushing off some recent signs of stronger expansion, the Federal Open Market Committee said economic growth remained at a "moderate" pace.
It noted a rise in household spending and an improving housing industry, but said growth in business investment had slowed, and that joblessness was still high.
Fed 'Remains Concerned'
The Fed "remains concerned that, without sufficient policy accommodation, economic growth might not be strong enough to generate sustained improvement in labor market conditions," the FOMC said in a statement after a two-day meeting.
The economy also remains vulnerable to strains in global financial markets, it added.
