The economy remains in a slump, motivating a Federal Reserve official, who is said to be President Obama’s favored candidate for vice chair of the Fed, to say that keeping interest rates at record-low levels is important.

Janet Yellen, head of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, said in a recent speech that the Fed remains committed to doing what’s necessary to hold down interest rates.

Any significant run-up in mortgage rates would create risks for a housing recovery, she said.

Source: Associated Press, Jeannine Aversa