Core CPI comes in light:
The U.S. core Consumer Price Index increased 0.2% M/M in March, just under the +0.3% consensus and running at the same pace (+0.2%) as in February, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. While the headline CPI jumped 0.9% M/M, fueled by soaring energy costs, that increase was widely expected as the Iran war shocked global energy markets.
On a year-over-year basis, core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 2.6% Y/Y, less than the +2.7% consensus but accelerating from +2.5% in the prior month.