. >> we're talking with steve leisman of cnbc. his work is is available online at cnbc.com. two other points, first of all, the inflation. the fed chairman was asked about inflation. right now it averages about 2% a year. any concerns we could see it increase over the next year to two? >> well, there's always that concern out there, but it's kind of interesting that bernanke wants an inflation problem. you have to pick the problem. he doesn't want to have inflati inflation. if he has to choose a problem, he would choose the problem of inflation rather than deflation. he's very concerned that we would go into a situation like japan has had for nearly two decades where it's been at really declining prices and, of course, declining incomes go along with that. you may want prices aat the store to go down, but unfortunately usually that comes along with your income going down so you're willingness to buy the goods declines as well. the inflation problem is a problem we sort of know how to deal with. it's painful, but it's a problem that the kind of theory and the mechanism of deal