The Consumer Price Index rose 2.9 percent from a year earlier, but a measure of underlying inflation was more encouraging.

Annual inflation ticked up for a third straight month in December as food, energy costs rose, CPI report showed. But underlying price measure eased.

The drop in yields occurred as traders resumed betting on another Fed rate cut by July. Traders ignored the strong December employment data released Friday, which sparked a surge toward the highest levels in months as it sowed doubts that policymakers would cut rates at all this year.