U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told members of Congress this morning that he believes a second economic stimulus package “seems appropriate” given the current economic conditions, Reuters reported.

“With the economy likely to be weak for several quarters, and with some risk of protracted slowdown, consideration of a fiscal package by the Congress at this junction seems appropriate,” Bernanke said in his remarks to a congressional panel this morning.

The government disbursed approximately $100 billion in tax rebate checks during the summer in anticipation that the checks would stimulate the economy, but instead, consumer spending has struggled and retail sales decreased three consecutive months through September.

Bernanke suggested that the stimulus package should be administered as quickly as possible in order to boost the economy during its greatest period of weakness, CNNMoney reported.

He also said that with concerns of a global recession, oil prices have fallen sharply, taking the edge off inflation, and if those trends are not reversed, that “should bring inflation down to levels consistent with price stability.”