Bernanke: home prices have forced cutbacks in consumer spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ben Bernanke says declines in home prices have forced many Americans to cut back sharply on spending and warns that the trend could continue to weigh on the economy for years.

The Federal Reserve chairman drew the connection between home values and consumer spending, which fuels 70 percent of economic activity, on Friday during a speech to the National Association of Home Builders in Orlando.

Bernanke says the broader economy won’t fully recover until the depressed housing market turns around. People are spending less because they are stuck in “underwater” homes, which are worth less than what is owed on the mortgage. And home values are falling because of foreclosures and tight credit — even in areas with lower unemployment.

“Recent declines in housing wealth may be reducing consumer spending between $200 billion and $375 billion per year. That reduction corresponds to lower living standards for many Americans,” Bernanke said.

The Fed chairman said there’s no “silver bullet” to rescue the housing market. Renting out foreclosed homes and reducing or modifying mortgages are among steps that could help.

“Low or negative equity creates additional problems for households,” Bernanke said. “It reduces financial flexibility: Homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages cannot tap home equity to pay for emergency health expenses or their children’s college educations.