US retail sales last month rose 1.6%, handily exceeding forecasts of a 0.9% gain. The number was also a steep turnaround from February's 0.2% fall.

In early morning trading, US 10-year note yields edged up to 2.575% after the data, from 2.563% just before. Ten-year yields, however, were still down from Wednesday's level of 2.592%.

US 2-year yields edged up to 2.392% from 2.384% before the data's release, although they were still lower compared to 2.402% late on Wednesday.