Instant view: Core inflation rises mildly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rising food and gasoline prices lifted U.S. consumer inflation as expected in March, but underlying inflation pressures remained contained, a government report showed on Friday.

A gauge of manufacturing in New York State rose in April to its highest level in a year, and the state employment index jumped to its highest since May 2004, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report on Friday.

KEY POINTS:

0.5 percent after rising by the same margin in February. That was in line with economists' expectations. * Core CPI -- excluding food and energy - edged up 0.1 percent after gaining 0.2 percent the prior month, and below economists' expectations for a 0.2 percent rise. * The New York Fed's "Empire State" general business conditions index increased to 21.7 in April from 17.50 in March. * Economists polled by Reuters had expected a figure of 16.90 for April.

COMMENTS:

DAVID WYSS, CHIEF ECONOMIST, STANDARD & POORS RATINGS SERVICES, NEW YORK

"It's pretty much within expectations with most of it coming in energy. The core rate is up only 0.1 percent and the year-over-year increase is only 1.2 percent. That's at the low end of the Fed's target.

"The only place that there is inflation is energy, and the Fed can't print oil. Even food prices are coming on the wholesale level.

"The Fed is not going to see inflation as a threat so they have the freedom to keep interest rates low longer. But core inflation is creeping up from its lows six months ago, so the Fed is going to end its extraordinary measures. There will be no QE3."

VIMOMBI NSHOM, ECONOMIST, IFR ECONOMICS, A UNIT OF THOMSON REUTERS

"The core gains that had elevated February's performance were missing in March, as some items falling/becoming more negative and the a majority of the rest posted smaller gains. Apparel, which was positive in January (1 percent), fell by 0.5 percent after having fallen 0.9 percent in the month prior. For example, airline fare rose 1.9 percent (compared to 2.2 percent) and light vehicle truck prices rose 0.7 percent (had risen 1 percent). Core prices are up 1.2 percent since March 2010-- notably below the 1.9 percent annual average growth in the past ten years."

MARKET REACTION:

STOCKS: U.S. S&P stock index futures turn positive.

BONDS: U.S. bond prices extend gains, 30-year long bonds up a point. TIPS breakevens narrow further.

FOREX: The dollar extends losses versus yen, pares gains versus euro.