CRI听力:U.S. Fed Debates Earlier Rate Rise Given U.S. Jobs Gain

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen holds a news conference following two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington in this file photo from June 18, 2014. [Photo:CFP]

The U.S. Federal Reserve is hinting that a surprisingly-strong jobs market recovery could lead to a hike in interest rates earlier than it had been anticipating.

But at the same time, most Fed officials asked say they want further evidence before changing their view on when rates should be raised.

The US central bank has held benchmark rates at near zero since December of 2008.

However, the Fed has signaled it will likely begin to move up interest rates some time next year.

For more on this, CRI's Zhao Yang spoke earlier with Einar Tangen, former chair of the State of Wisconsin's International Trade Council.