Thrashed 5-0 last week by Northampton, the Cheshire side responded with an exhilarating first 45 minutes.
They took the lead on six minutes when centre-back Danny Swailes met a Kevin Sandwith corner with a firm downward header from the six-yard line, for his first goal for Macclesfield since his move from Bury 13 months ago.
They extended their lead just four minutes later when Danny Whitaker moved the ball sideways for Kevin McIntyre to flight home his fifth goal of the season from the edge of the box.
Carlisle's best chances came on the half hour when Zigor Aranalde saw a 12-yard looping header cleared off the line by Paul Harsley and a return shot from Chris Lumsdon was acrobatically saved by Alan Fettis.
The home side sealed the game on 42 minutes when Harsley picked out man of the match Whitaker, who poked a 12-yard volley back past the keeper for his second goal in two games.
Visiting left-back Peter Murphy saw a 25-yard free-kick cleared off the line by David Morley in the 59th minute, while substitute Derek Holmes was denied by a point-blank save from Fettis in the 86th minute.
Nonetheless it was Carlisle's 2,000 fans who travelled back up the M6 disappointed.