Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will answer questions about the economy, starting at 2:15 p.m. ET Wednesday.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Mixed economic data has the Federal Reserve sticking to its current game plan for stimulating the recovery.
Following a two-day meeting, the central bank characterized the economy's current momentum as "moderate," and said it will not make any changes to its ongoing stimulus programs at this time.
"The Committee expects economic growth to remain moderate over coming quarters and then to pick up gradually," the official statement said.
The Fed still plans to keep the federal funds rate at record lows "at least through late 2014," a long-run forecast it first announced in January.
Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker dissented against that lanugage, as he did in the last two meetings. He believes the economy will not need ultra-low interest rates as far out as late 2014. All nine of the Fed's other voting members voted in favor of the statement.
The central bank slashed interest rates to historic lows in December 2008 and has kept them there ever since, hoping cheaper access to credit would spur economic growth.
Meanwhile, the program known as Operation Twist remains in place, shifting $400 billion from short-term to long-term bonds. The hope is that this program, which is scheduled to end in June, will bring down long-term interest rates on items like car loans and mortgages.
Despite the Fed's best efforts though, the economy remains a mixed bag.
The central bank noted "strains in global financial markets continue to pose significant downside risks," oil and gasoline prices may push inflation higher temporarily, and the housing market is still in the slumps.
That said, the job market has improved and spending by both businesses and households has picked up.
Later Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee will fine tune its economic projections and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will answer reporters' questions at a press conference.
At its January meeting, the central bank said it expects the unemployment rate to fall to between 8.2% and 8.5% by the end of this year. It fell to the lower end of that range, at 8.2% in March.
The Fed's January forecasts also predict the economy will grow between 2.2% and 2.7% in 2012, and the annual inflation rate will hover between 1.5% and 1.8%. Most economists are expecting the Fed to tweak those figures, but only slightly.
Do you have a question for Ben Bernanke? Submit one here, and CNN may ask your question at the press conference at 2:15 p.m. ET.
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