The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, has signalled a new round of stimulus for the US economy.
The timing of the move is not clear, but it is likely to target US government bonds.
Mr Bernanke said the decision to make a further intervention was based on high unemployment figures and low inflation.
At a keynote address in Boston, Mr Bernanke said 'there would appear - all else being equal - to be a case for further action.'
He added: 'Inflation is running at rates that are too low relative to the levels that the (Fed) committee judges to be most consistent with the Federal Reserve's dual mandate in the longer run.
'The risk of deflation is higher than desirable,' he said.
Inflation ran at around 1% for the first eight months of this year, far below the Fed's increasingly formal target of 2%.
Among the measures now on the cards, Mr Bernanke said, were Fed moves to buy up long-term securities, essentially pouring money into the economy, and communicating to markets that low interest rates will stay for a long time.
His comments appeared to be vindicated later yesterday when data showed consumer prices increased a scant 0.1% in September.
