Housing holds back recovery in US

The Federal Reserve chairman has raised his forecast for economic growth in the US this year.

Speaking at a news conference Ben Bernanke said he would not hesitate to launch another round of bond purchases if the economy were to weaken.

The one sticking point he said in an otherwise improving economic picture was the sluggish housing market.

Millions of homeowners across the US are still struggling with their mortgages - four years after the housing bubble burst.

Jill Martin reports from Long Island New York.