Kuala Lampur, April 11 --  

WASHINGTON, April 30 - Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed yesterday, as higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East hit Americans hard.

The nationwide sticker shock put pressure on President Donald Trump, who has ordered peace talks with Iran and faces mid-term elections in November.

The rate of inflation rose to 3.3 per cent year-on-year in March, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By comparison, this same consumer price index (CPI) was 2.4 per cent year-on-year a month earlier.

Gasoline prices surged by 21.2 percent between February and March-the largest monthly increase since the government began publishing a related index in 1967, the US Bu...