A surge in food items such as milk and fruits in March pushed up the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 106 points in March, from the 105 points recorded in February.
According to the Consumer Price Index data released on Monday, at the all India level, the index for milk and milk products rose by 1.9 per cent to 109 points as compared to the previous month.
Also, indices for egg, fish and meat went up by 1.9 per cent to 108 points as compared to February, while fruits were up sharply by 3.5 per cent to 119 points in March on a sequential basis.
Sequentially, there was also a rise of over one per cent in inflation recorded for condiments and spices and pan and tobacco. However, vegetables fell by 6.6 per cent in the month under review to 99 points.
Sugar also fell by 1.04 per cent to 95 points during the month under review.
Overall, the ‘Food, beverages and tobacco' segment of CPI remained steady at 106 points, at the same level as in February.
While the combined CPI, according to new series, has increased to 106 in March this year from a base of 100 in December 2010, the Government will only be releasing the inflation figures in percentage from next year.
Rural, urban indices
The general indices for rural and urban areas were recorded at 107 and 104 points, respectively.
These consumer indices have been released for five major groups – food, beverages and tobacco; fuel and light; housing; clothing, bedding and footwear; and miscellaneous items.
During the unveiling of the new index earlier this year, the Government had said it would give out figures for one year in the present form, without quoting the inflation rate. This will be “till the series gets stabilised” and adequate timely receipt of price data is achieved.
Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index, was at 8.98 per cent in March, which is more than the RBI projection of eight per cent.