Atlanta Fed s Lockhart: Ignore the zigs and zags

MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. economy is likely to perform at a higher gear in 2014 despite some not-so-great first-quarter numbers that may be coming due to weather and inventory effects, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said Wednesday. I think we policymakers should be patient -- not too quick to respond to zigs and zags in the data, he said. Lockhart said the key question is how long the keep the federal funds rate target at zero -- and answers by saying well into 2015. Lockhart isn t a voting Federal Open Market Committee member this year.Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.