Retail inflation spurts to 9.47% in March

Retail inflation spurted to 9.47 per cent in March because of higher prices of milk, vegetables, protein-based items and edible oil products.

Retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index, was 8.83 per cent in February, as per the government data release in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Among other items, prices of cereal and its products saw a rise of 2.78 per cent over the March 2011 level.

The prices of milk and products rose by 15.22 per cent, while oils and fats turned costlier by 14.20 per cent during the month, year-on-year basis.

While sugar saw a marginal rise of 3.78 per cent in March, 'pulses and products' were up by 4.89 per cent, over the same month last year.

Prices of egg, fish and meat shot up 10.06 per cent, while non-alcoholic beverages and vegetables became costlier by 10.20 per cent and 9.55

per cent respectively.

Prices of fuel and light, and clothing, bedding and footwear segments also remained in the double-digit.

Inflation rates for rural and urban areas were 8.79 per cent and 10.30 per cent respectively in March.

According to the revised data, the inflation rates for rural and urban areas were 8.36 per cent and 9.45 per cent respectively in February.

The All-India CPI is in addition to the three retail price indices -- for agricultural labourers, rural labourers and industrial workers -- prepared by the Ministry of Labour.

Meanwhile, inflation based on Wholesale Price Index showed a marginal decline to 6.89 per cent in March, as per the WPI data released earlier this week.