On Friday, U.S. Treasury yields exhibited minimal movement as market participants deliberated over the implications of recent inflation data that surpassed forecasts. The outlook for interest rates remained uncertain amid heightened inflationary pressures.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note experienced a slight decline of 2 basis points, settling at 4.279%. Conversely, the 2-year Treasury yield recorded a marginal uptick of less than one basis point, reaching 4.692%.

Investors closely analyzed Thursday's release of inflation indicators, notably the producer price index (PPI), which revealed a 0.6% increase in February compared to the previous month. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core PPI registered a 0.3% uptick, surpassing economists' expectations.

Earlier in the week, the consumer price index (CPI) for February also exceeded forecasts, with a monthly gain of 0.4% and an annual increase of 3.2%. These inflation readings heightened anticipation for the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting on March 19-20.

Market consensus suggests that the Fed will maintain interest rates at their current levels during the forthcoming meeting. However, investors remain eager for insights into the central bank's stance on potential rate cuts. Despite limited indications from Fed officials, market sentiment regarding the timing of rate adjustments fluctuated, with traders now pricing in a 60% probability of the first rate cut occurring in June.

Looking ahead, investors will monitor the release of the latest consumer sentiment report and import and export prices for further insights into economic conditions and potential inflationary pressures. These data points will continue to influence market sentiment and expectations regarding monetary policy adjustments by the Federal Reserve.

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