Retail inflation in India spurts to 9.47 pc in March

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) India's retail inflation spurted to 9.47 per cent in March 2012 because of higher prices of milk, vegetables, protein-based items and edible oil products. Retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 8.83 per cent in February, as per the government data release here today. 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. 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 based on Wholesale Price Index as per data released earlier in the week had shown a marginal decline to 6.89 per cent in March. PTI