New Delhi, May 21 -- India's wholesale inflation surged to a 42-month high of 8.3% in April from 3.88% in March on the back of a spike in energy prices that followed the disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict. Meanwhile, wholesale price index (WPI) inflation was 0.85 per cent in April last year.

Fuel and power inflation jumped to 24.71% in April from 1.05% in March, emerging as the biggest contributor to headline wholesale inflation, DPIIT data revealed.

Crude petroleum & natural gas prices rose 16.42% sequentially. Inflation in the category surged to 67.18% year-on-year in April, with crude petroleum inflation alone rising to 88.06%.

According to global brokerage Barclays, the sequential increase in WPI inflation was the highest...