(FILES) This file photo taken on February 14, 2017 shows Federal Reserve Board Chairwoman Janet Yellen during a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said March 3, 2017 another interest rate increase could be "appropriate" later this month if US employment and inflation remain in line with expectations.Yellen also defended the Fed's performance, saying it has not been too slow to raise the benchmark lending rates, given the tepid recovery and sluggish inflation. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski