The rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) food index increased from 8.47 per cent in February 2022 to 8.71 per cent in March 2022, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday.
According to the data, the food index consisting of 'food articles' from the primary articles group and 'food Products' from the manufactured products group has increased from 166.4 in February 2022 to 167.3 in March 2022.
Meanwhile, the annual rate of inflation is 14.55 per cent for the month of March 2022 as compared to 7.89 per cent in March 2021.
The ministry in a statement said that the high rate of inflation in March 2022 is primarily due to the rise in prices of crude petroleum and natural gas, mineral oils, and basic metals, owing to disruption in the global supply chain caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.