New Delhi, Apr 2 The rate of inflation for the week ended March 21 rose marginally to 0.31 percent, from 0.27 percent a week earlier, government data showed on Thursday.

The inflation rate, as measured by the wholesale price index, was 7.8 per centuring the corresponding week of the previous year.

Price of certain food items such as tea, gur, aerated water and imported edible oil has risen during the period.

While the price of blended tea increased by 48 per cent, packaged tea and aerated water became expensive by 22 and 10 per cent, respectively.

Besides them, the list of items, which became expensive comprises of oil cake, bajra, soft drinks, condiments and spices, soyabean, niger seed, raw rubber, groundnut, mustard seed and raw cotton.

Cement, rubber, plastic products and PVC fittings also became dearer.

However, prices of fruit and vegetables, barley, jowar, raw silk, khandsari, salt, mustard and coconut oil became cheaper.

Prices of furnace oil, textile items, hair oil, steel ingots and bars also decreased.

Meanwhile, the commerce ministry has lowered the inflation rate for the week ended Jan 24 to 4.70 percent from the provisional 5.07 percent reported earlier.

It didn't give any reasons for the revision in the rate. (ANI)