#CPI&JoblessClaimsWatch Both the general CPI and the core CPI increased by a modest 0.1% in March, reducing the 12-month trend rates to 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Both trend rates are better than market expectations, although the annualized rates for three and six months stood at 3%. Nonetheless, this represented a significant improvement in inflation figures and brought the trend rates closer to the Federal Reserve's long-term target of 2%.