Yellen is not willing to say that lower oil prices haven’t helped consumption.
“The typical, the average household in the United States with oil prices where they are now is probably benefiting around $1,000 a year. And so very detailed microdata that I have seen on household spending patterns suggest that there may be a link, as you would expect, from reduced amounts that people pay at the pump, to other spending like eating out for restaurant meals and other things,” she said.