WALL STREET stocks shot higher yesterday along with bond prices as fresh economic data and lower commodities prices eased fears of US inflation.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 45.52 points to close at 5,532.59, recouping part of the 196 point sell off that occurred between Monday and Wednesday.

The Labour Department said consumer prices rose 0.4% in March.

But excluding the volatile food and energy components, the so called core rate of inflation was up only 0.3%.

In a separate indication that the US economy may not be on an inflationary path the Commerce Department reported that retail sales rose just 0.1% in March.