New Delhi, April 14 -- Retail inflation edged higher to 3.4% from a year ago in March from 3.2% in February, government data issued on Monday showed. The main driver was dearer food, whose prices rose 3.9%, quicker than February's 3.5% increase.

Inflation in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was at about 2% while transport prices were flat. This may be a result of authorities preventing a pass through of global oil prices to consumers as a shield from the West Asian war's fallout.

Overall, price pressures seem in control. But this could change as the effects of supply shortages begin to show up in various retail prices. Crude oil has sprung back above $100 a barrel as the US announced its own blockade of shipments to and ...