Lower rates can stimulate the economy, and Cramer said the data in the CPI report gives the Fed room to cut, which would benefit the market as a whole. The central bank may actually have to cut, he continued, because tariff increases could lead consumers to spend less, which in turn means many retailers will miss their estimates.

Traders in the federal-funds futures market are expecting the Federal Reserve will hold its benchmark interest rate steady until June, when they anticipate a potential rate cut. Fed-funds futures pointed to a 99% probability of the Fed keeping its policy rate at the current level of 4.

Cooler inflation last month leaves the door open for the Federal Reserve to resume cutting interest rates by mid-year, but the central bank remains worried that U.S. tariff hikes could rekindle price pressures,