Bernanke press conference may bode well for economy

Ben Bernanke became the first Federal Reserve chairman to hold a press conference last week, and based on survey findings of how it was received, it likely won't be the last one he gives.

According a poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, 44 percent of respondents said Bernanke's press conference will ultimately be a good thing for the economy, even though many people don't have positive feelings about the chairman himself.

One of the things that may have inspired so many respondents to receive the press conference well was that it made the Fed appear more transparent. When asked if auditing the Federal Reserve Board was a good thing, 74 percent of those polled agreed.

While Bernanke's press conference may have respondents believing it will do good things for the economy in the future, present-day views of the country's financial situation is lacking. Fifty-seven percent said the economy is getting worse, and just 23 percent said it was getting better.

Several reports have come out in recent days about consumers' view of the economy. Oftentimes, people who are considering moving use economic sentiment to help them figure out when to schedule their move.