Fed stimulus: Will buying bonds help the economy? [Google+ Hangout]

The Federal Reserve announced a new program Thursday to buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities a month to help stimulate the economy.

How will buying bonds help the real estate market and the broader economy? Will it create jobs? Join economy reporter Jim Puzzanghera in Washington, stock market reporter Andrew Tangel in New York and deputy business editor Joe Bel Bruno in Los Angeles for a Google+ Hangout discussion about the Fed’s action. We invite you to join in on the conversation by posting comments and questions below on this blog post.

LIVE VIDEO DISCUSSION: Join us at 1 p.m. today

Expect mortgage rates to stay low as one result of the bond buying. Some analysts say the Fed’s new program will have little effect on the economy because interest rates are already near record lows. And some critics are also raising red flags about the risk of inflation.

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