Summary Box: Bernanke speech shows he seeks to build consensus among Fed officials

Summary Box: Bernanke seeks to build consensus

TOUGH JOB: Ben Bernanke is struggling to build consensus among Federal Reserve officials about what steps are needed — if any — to give the economy a boost.

MIXED MESSAGE: Bernanke sees the economy improving next year, but he acknowledges it is fragile now and that unemployment will remain high for some time to come.

ON THE TABLE: The Fed is prepared to make a major new investment in government debt or mortgage securities if the economy worsened significantly or if the Fed detected deflation, Bernanke said.