LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - The benchmark 10-year U.S.

Treasury yield dropped to its lowest in a month on Wednesday

ahead of the release of closely watched U.S. inflation data.

The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to as low as 4.418%, its

lowest since April 10, and was last down 2 basis points at

4.424%.

It has dropped sharply since reaching 4.739% in late April,

a five-month high, but remains well above its level at the start

of the year.

U.S. consumer price data is due at 1230 GMT and will drive

near-term Federal Reserve policy, and hence Treasuries. It comes

after three hotter-than-expected readings so far this year.

Economists polled by Reuters expect core CPI to rise by 0.3%

in the month, down from 0.4% in March, for an annual gain of

3.6%, down from 3.8%.

The fall in U.S. yields for the third session in a row came

as traders digested remarks Tuesday from Federal Reserve chair

Jerome Powell that he expects U.S. inflation to continue

declining through 2024 as it did last year, though his

confidence in that has fallen due to the first quarter data.

Also in the mix Tuesday was data showing U.S. producer

prices increased more than expected in April, though March's

figure was revised downwards.

The U.S. two-year yield was down 1.5 basis points at 4.80%.