U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said it was too soon to decide whether the U.S. economy would need the help of a second round of government stimulus to recover from recession.

I don't think that's a judgment we need to make now, can't really make it now prudently, responsibly, Geithner said in a taped interview with CNN that will air on Sunday.

According to a transcript provided by CNN, Geithner said the biggest thrust of the $787 billion package of spending and tax cuts signed into law earlier this year would take effect in the second half of the year.

He also said a program that is setting up public-private partnerships to buy up toxic assets held by banks would likely see less use than had been expected a few months ago because the financial system had begun to stabilize.

(Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Timothy geithner