Fed officials double down on pledge to keep interest rates near zero

Hoping to convince investors they will keep monetary policy super easy for years, two Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday explicitly pledged no rate hikes until inflation gets to 2 per cent and stays there.

The Fed's governing board made that vow last week at its regularly scheduled policy meeting, promising to leave rates at their current near-zero levels until the economy reaches full employment, inflation has risen to 2 per cent, and is on track to moderately exceed that level.

Both Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans were adamant on Wednesday: Rates will not increase until labor