Market Watch: Inflation Data and Treasury Yields Rise

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the CPI report today, which is expected to show a 0.2% monthly increase in prices and a 5.2% annual rise. Economists also predict that core CPI for March will rise to 5.6% on an annual basis. The report will be closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which may hike interest rates by at least a quarter percentage point at its May meeting if inflation doesn't show sufficient improvement. The current rate of inflation is 6% on an annual basis. Dow futures were higher leading up to the report's release.