Core CPI Plays Cool, Bitcoin Shrugs Off Inflation Jitters and Hits $72,400

Bitcoin lounged comfortably around $72,000 on Friday like a cat who'd heard the vacuum cleaner but decided it wasn't worth opening its eyes—then lazily stretched up to $72,400 after the inflation print dropped. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) punched in a 0.9% gain for March—wall street's finest had called it exactly right, up from February's anemic 0.3% crawl. Year-over-year? CPI clocked in at 3.3%, matching estimates and making February's 2.4% look like a distant memory. The headline number basically screamed "everything's fine" while everyone in the back quietly sweating.

Core CPI, however, had other ideas—because nothing says "financial markets" like everyone agreeing and then something slightly disagreeing. Strip out food and energy, and prices barely budged 0.2%, missing the 0.3% consensus estimate like someone who overslept and missed their flight. Year-over-year core CPI landed at 2.6%, also dodging the 2.7% forecast by the skin of its teeth.

The divergence wasn't exactly shocking—energy costs linked to Middle East tensions basically hijacked the headline number like uninvited guests who brought wine but stayed until 2am. But the softer core reading gave Bitcoin the little nudge it needed to drift above