Retail inflation hits 5-month high of 3.81 per cent in March

Inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 3.65% in February. Protein-rich items such as milk and milk products and eggs were costlier during the month with inflation prints of 5.13 per cent and 2.96% respectively.

Prepared meals, snacks and sweets prices were also high as prices grew by 6.13%.

However, vegetables continued to remain in the negative zone with deflation of (—)8.57% in March 2017, as per the data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Overall, food inflation was at 1.85% as against 2.01% in February.

For fuel and light category, inflation rose to 5.75% for the month.