U.S. stocks started Friday’s session in positive territory after the latest inflation report came in largely as expected, helping calm investor worries about the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates.

The data suggested price pressures were not accelerating faster than economists had forecast, giving markets some relief after weeks of uncertainty around whether the central bank could soon begin cutting borrowing costs.

Major indexes initially moved higher as traders assessed the report and its implications for policy, with investors still weighing how quickly inflation is cooling and whether the Fed will stick to its current timeline.

The reaction reflected a familiar market pattern: when inflation prints are in line with forecasts, equities often gain support because it reduces the chance of a surprise shift in monetary policy. Even so, analysts said the path ahead remains dependent on more data in the coming weeks.