Bernanke says US job market weak despite gains Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 07:49 a.m., Monday, March 26, 2012 WASHINGTON (AP) — Chairman Ben Bernanke says the U.S. job market remains weak despite three months of strong hiring and that the Federal Reserve's existing policies will help boost growth. [...] job gains will likely require more robust consumer and business demand, Bernanke said Monday during a speech at the National Association for Business Economics spring conference in Arlington, Va. Bernanke said the combination of modest economic growth and rapid declines in unemployment is something of a puzzle. Americans aren't seeing big pay increases, gas prices are rising, and Europe's debt crisis could weigh on the U.S.