Food inflation rose marginally to 16.35% for the week ended March 20 mainly on account of high prices of pulses and milk.
The inflation stood at four-month low of 16.22% for the week ended March 13.
The rise in food prices is mainly driven by pulses, which became dearer by 31.55%. Milk prices rose by 18.74% on the yearly basis.
On weekly basis, the index for food articles rose by 0.6% due to higher prices of barley and milk (3% each), moong and condiments and spices (2% each), and urad & arhar (1% each).
The overall inflation has been relentlessly rising and was at 9.89% in February, up from 8.56% in January. The rise in inflation has been mainly attributed to high food inflation and the recent hike in fuel inflation after the increase in excise and customs duty on petrol and diesel.