Retail inflation rises to 8.65 per cent in March

NEW DELHI: The retail inflation for industrial workers stood at 8.65 per cent in March, higher than 7.57 per cent in February due to a spurt in food prices.

"The point to point of inflation based on CPI-IW also increased from 7.57 per cent in February to 8.65 per cent in March," a Labour Ministry statement said here.

The retail inflation measured in terms of All India Consumer Price Index (CPI-IW) for industrial workers rose by 2 points in March to 201, said the latest government data.

Inflation based on Food Index jumped to 8.16 per cent in March, 2012 compared to 5.08 per cent in February 2012, it said.

The rise in inflation was attributed to increase in the prices of rice, wheat, groundnut oil, poultry (chicken), vegetables and fruits, bidi, cigarette, dhoti (cotton) and saree among others.

During March, 2012 the index recorded maximum increase of 7 points each in Bhilwara, Vijaywada and Salem centres and 6 points each in Belgaum, Ajmer, Ghaziabad and Mundakkayam centres.

The index decreased by 2 points in Tripura centre and 1 point each in Darjeeling, Sholapur and Puduchery centres.

Bangalore recorded index at 206, followed by Mumbai (204), Ahmedabad (201), Kolkata (190), Chennai (187) and Delhi (185).