*FED'S FERGUSON-Y2K RISK OF INVENTORY BUILDING STILL 'OPEN QUESTION'

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Vice Chair-designate Roger Ferguson said on Friday the impact of the end-of-millennium computer bug would be considered by policymakers if it affected the Fed's long-term goals.

Speaking to reporters at a conference by the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, Ferguson also said it was not clear yet whether fears of the computer bug would prompt businesses into building inventories that could cause bottlenecks in the U.S. economy.

========================================

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), September 17, 1999